Pepsi-Cola Football Ground Upgrade Underway

Kathmandu. The upgrade of the Pepsi-Cola Football Ground in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-32 is progressing rapidly.

An 11-a-side artificial turf field is being constructed here with the financial investment of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

The carpet laying work on the field has been completed, with only sand filling remaining, according to Arjun Aryal, an engineer at the Public Construction Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He stated that all the work for the ground upgrade, including sand filling, will take another two months to complete.

Aryal said, 'Sand needs to be placed on top of the carpet. It takes time to place sand in cold weather. The contract is to finish by Mangsir. It will be completed in a maximum of two months.'

According to him, sand is used to prevent waterlogging, make the ground durable, and facilitate easy play. The artificial turf is made of plastic fibers, so the sand keeps these fibers upright and stable. This prevents the grass from wrinkling or uprooting.

The sand makes the ground soft, reducing the risk of injury when players run or fall. It also makes the ball's speed and bounce similar to natural grass. Additionally, because rainwater drains quickly, water does not accumulate on the field, making it easier to conduct games. Engineer Aryal informed that drains will be constructed to prevent waterlogging and damage to the field, along with foot tracks on the sides for walking.

With the objective of organizing the dusty and disorganized ground using artificial turf, the Metropolitan City initiated the process in the fiscal year 2081/82. Under this, turf fields were to be constructed in six places in Kathmandu, including Pepsi-Cola.

Grass field construction is underway under a single contract in Bansbari, the Social Ground in Nayabazar, the Bagmati Corridor in Balkhu, and Ganeshthan in Chabahil. The contract for the upgrade and construction of all these six fields was taken by JSS/SM JV Gyaneshwor for sixty-eight million rupees.