Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has approved the master plan for the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and designated it as a national priority project.
The cabinet meeting held on Thursday approved the master plan based on the proposal of the Ministry of Urban Development. It also decided to designate the cricket ground as a national priority project.
An estimated Rs 10 million will be needed to implement the master plan.
The first phase of the TU International Cricket Ground Project is currently under implementation. In the first phase, parapets with a seating capacity of 10,000 have already been built, while the installation of six floodlights has reached the final stage. Seating capacity will increase to 30,000 after the works of the second phase are completed.
All works of the first phase will be completed before November 17, when the second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicks off, according to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
Minister for Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, who recently visited the stadium site to review the progress of the first-phase works, said the cricket stadium would also help promote international sports and tourism.
During the visit, Ghising said that the second phase of the expansion would be advanced in accordance with the master plan and that the ministry would ensure that the project does not face budget shortages.
