Karnali Stadium Construction Delayed Due to Unresolved Contractor Payment and Extension Issues

Surkhet. The construction of the Karnali Stadium, located in the central part of Birendranagar, the capital of Karnali Province, was targeted for completion by Jestha 081, but due to reasons such as the earthquake in Kartik 080 and other factors, construction could not be completed by the said time.

Subsequently, the deadline was extended until Mangsir 081. However, the contracting company also failed to complete the work by that date. Since then, neither the stadium construction deadline has been extended, nor has the construction company shown initiative to complete the work.

Despite two years having passed, the stadium is not only incomplete but also in a state of neglect in its under-construction phase.

The contract for the construction of the stadium, with a cost of 1 Arba 59 Crore 47 Lakh 47 Thousand, was awarded to the contracting company MAC/GSL JV in Mangsir 078.

The foundation stone for the stadium, spread over 9 Bigha in the central part of Birendranagar Municipality-8, the provincial capital, was laid by then Chief Minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi on Mangsir 20, 078. The stadium, considered exemplary in the country, has been in a neglected state for the past year. The contracting company is holding up 1 percent of the work, claiming non-payment of 9 Crore rupees.

The primary weakness behind such a large stadium remaining incomplete and neglected lies with the provincial government itself. After the term of the then Member Secretary of the Karnali Sports Development Council, Bishwamitra Sanjyal, ended in Poush 081, the provincial government failed to appoint a new Member Secretary.

The government appointed Rabin Chand as Member Secretary 15 months later, in Chaitra. However, no progress has been made regarding the contractor's payment and the completion of the stadium work.

Due to the non-appointment of a Member Secretary with financial authority in a timely manner, not only has the stadium, with 99 percent of its work completed, been left in limbo, but it has also started deteriorating even before its operation. The stadium, with a capacity of 10,000 spectators, has been built in a very modern way. However, due to the inability to complete the construction and hand it over to the provincial government, it remains in a neglected state.

The government appointed Rabin Chand as Member Secretary 15 months later, in Chaitra. However, no progress has been made regarding the contractor's payment and the completion of the stadium work.

Purushottam Baral, a representative of the contracting company, told Ratopati that the deadline has not been extended yet and he has not received his due payment. 'Our payment process has not started. We applied for deadline extension and payment in Baishakh,' he said, 'but no work has progressed.'

According to Baral, the work is almost 99 percent complete, with about one percent remaining. It will take one to one and a half months to complete that one percent of the work.

Baral said, 'The new Member Secretary is studying and discussing. Perhaps understanding the legal and administrative aspects.'

Baral states that if the government expedites the deadline extension and payment process, all work can be completed and handed over by the end of Ashad.

According to him, a small amount of physical infrastructure work remains. Paving the entrance, applying the final coat of paint, and some improvement works are pending.

Similarly, tasks like checking the lighting and water systems are also pending. Baral said, 'The new Member Secretary is studying and discussing. Perhaps understanding the legal and administrative aspects.'

He mentioned that some payment to the consultant is also pending. He believes that if the government had appointed the Member Secretary on time, such a problem would not have arisen.

As the stadium has been neglected for a year, the structures built also appear to be deteriorating. Engineer Baral states that this is due to it not being operational and lacking people.

Regarding the deadline extension, Chand stated that a discussion was held with the previous consultant, i.e., the project manager, by calling them to Surkhet.

Currently, there are only 4-5 laborers at the stadium. They are carrying out general maintenance. The contractor company has stated that due to rain, the grass in the field has grown a lot. They are facing problems with maintenance as it is not fully operational.

Rabin Chand, Member Secretary of the Provincial Sports Development Council, had said that a committee would be formed within a week to understand the reality of the stadium upon assuming office. Even though a month has passed since his appointment, he has not been able to form a study committee. 'We are working on finding a solution for the stadium,' Chand told Ratopati.

Chand stated that the process of extending the contractor company's deadline is being studied. 'It is not something that can be done immediately,' he said, 'The budget has been allocated. We are studying. It is such a large project. To move forward with the deadline extension process, one must be confident, so it took some time.'

Chand mentioned that a discussion was held with the previous consultant, i.e., the project manager, by calling them to Surkhet regarding the deadline extension. 'We have met with the Chief Minister multiple times,' he added, 'This is a somewhat complicated issue.'

Chand clarified that he is also seriously working on it, understanding it as a challenge. According to him, the deadline extension must proceed based on the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and Regulations.

'We cannot proceed arbitrarily according to our convenience,' he said, 'They have said they will extend the deadline, and we will work. We also want to complete the work on time after the deadline is extended.'

Chand stated that efforts are being made to create all favorable conditions for extending the deadline. He indicated that preparations are underway to complete the stadium construction work this Ashad by resolving all problems.