The panel headed by NOC Former General Secretary Bishnu Gopal Shrestha has urged to take initiatives for infrastructure development in the country as Nepal is expecting to host the 13th SAG in 2014.[break]
The panel has suggested building a new stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 in Khumaltar, Lalitpur if Nepal gets the opportunity to organize the 13th SAG.
Dasharath Stadium, the only international standard stadium in the capital, has the capacity to accommodate 18,000 people.
The panel has also urged the government to build five covered halls, one each in Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Birgunj, Pokhara and Dharan, a covered hall in Kirtipur with a capacity to accomodate 7,000 people. It has also asked the government to build multi-purpose halls in Birgunj, Pokhara and Bhaktapur with a capacity to accommodate 5,000 people each. The proposed Dharan Covered Hall can accomodate 3,000 people.
The panel has estimated that 550 ropanis (1 ropani = 5476 sq feet) of land and Rs 1.76 billion would be required for the purpose.
According to Shrestha, the total cost for organizing the regional mega event would come to around Rs 730 million. "We have also categorically mentioned about resource mobilization and challenges ahead," said Shrestha.
The panel has also recommended introducing South Asian Para Games during the South Asian Games.
NOC had formed a nine-member panel on August 29 under the leadership of Shrestha. Ministry of Youth and Sports had also formed a panel to study the possibility of organizing 13th SAG but is yet to make its study public.
Nepal had hosted the first and eighth editions of the regional games in 1984 and 1999.
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