Bishal Adhikari
The cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday decided to complete the installation of floodlights and construction of parapets at the TU Cricket Ground within 300 days. However, the tender process for floodlight installation by the National Sports Council (NSC) is on the verge of being canceled for the third time.
Formation of Review Committee
The NSC had called for the first tender on Baisakh 11, 2081. Four companies submitted applications, but all were deemed ineligible. A review committee will be formed to investigate the matter, according to an official from the NSC’s infrastructure department.
Previously Cancelled Tenders
The tenders for floodlight installation have been canceled twice before.
- First time: On Baisakh 4, 2080, the NSC called for a tender, which was submitted by five companies. However, the evaluation committee disqualified all of them.
- Second time: In Shrawan 2080, the NSC called for another tender. Out of the five companies that applied, MSIPL-ASC Power JV was selected for floodlight construction on Kartik 21, 2080. However, four companies that were not selected accused the NSC of bias in the selection process and filed a complaint with the Public Procurement Monitoring Office. The office directed a re-evaluation, and MSIPL-ASC Power JV filed a writ petition in the High Court on Poush 19, 2080. The High Court ordered the cancellation of the tender, resulting in no company being selected from the second tender as well.
Digital Scoreboard Work Underway
The work on the digital scoreboard, for which a tender was called on Baisakh 13, 2081, is progressing rapidly. Panchkanya/Himalayan JV has been awarded the contract for the construction of the digital scoreboard.
Plan to Re-tender
Tankalal Ghising, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, said that another tender will be called if the current one is canceled. He said, “If this tender is canceled, we will call for another tender. The next tender will have a deadline of 21 days.”
Lack of Budget for Parapet Construction
Although the cabinet has decided to complete the construction of floodlights and parapets within 300 days, there is no budget allocated for the construction of parapets, and no tender has been called.
NSC Member Secretary Ghising says it can be done if the Prime Minister wants. He said, “The floodlights and scoreboard will be built. The budget for the parapet has not been allocated yet. So, we cannot say. But after the Honorable Prime Minister has said it, the budget will definitely be there.”
According to Ghising, the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) has proposed making separate agreements for different blocks. “If that happens, the work can be completed in 300 days,” he told Onlinekhabar.
In the budget for the fiscal year 2079/80, then Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had allocated Rs. 200 million for the upgrading and installation of floodlights at Kirtipur Stadium.
Out of the allocated Rs. 10 Crore for stadium upgrading and Rs. 10 Crore for floodlight installation, the Rs. 10 Crore for floodlights was returned unspent.
The budget for the fiscal year 2081/82 has allocated Rs. 20 Crore for the installation of floodlights at TU Stadium.
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