Roads leading to the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur are set for blacktopping within three months of a construction contract being signed, as authorities move to improve access to one of Nepal’s main cricket venues.

The Kathmandu Road Division has invited bids to upgrade approximately 1.5 kilometres of access roads, with the project estimated to cost Rs69.8 million. The work is being prioritised as the ground hosts domestic and prepares for upcoming international cricket tournaments, according to The Kathmandu Post.

Contractor selection expected within 20 days

Subodh Kumar Devkota, chief of the Kathmandu Road Division, said the division expects to select a construction company and sign a contract within 15 to 20 days.

Under the accelerated procurement schedule, interested companies can obtain bidding documents for three days and must submit their bids by October 29. Officials will then evaluate the technical and financial proposals before awarding the contract.

Once the agreement is signed, the contractor will have three months to complete the blacktopping. The deadline therefore runs from the contract date, rather than from the announcement of the project.

Dust and poor access have affected spectators

The access roads around the cricket ground are currently unpaved, creating dust and inconvenience for players, spectators and other visitors.

The road division has arranged for water to be sprayed on the roads to reduce dust while permanent improvements are pending. It also spread gravel along the routes before the Nepal Premier League began, with 60 truckloads reportedly laid in a single day.

Roshan Kumar Singh, vice-president of the Cricket Association of Nepal, welcomed the accelerated road-upgrade plan, saying poor road conditions had made it difficult for spectators to reach the venue.

Work comes as Nepal hosts major cricket events

The Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground is hosting the third edition of the Nepal Premier League, which began on October 26.

The road improvements are also expected to support preparations for the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which Nepal will co-host with Bangladesh in early 2027. The Kirtipur ground is scheduled to host most of the tournament’s matches, according to the published report.

Improving access to the venue is important as large crowds attend matches and international teams, officials and media personnel visit the ground. Better roads could reduce dust and make movement easier around the stadium, although the extent of the improvement will depend on completing the work to the required standard.

A deadline, not a completed upgrade

The announcement establishes a procurement process and a proposed construction deadline; it does not mean the roads have already been blacktopped.

The next key steps are contractor selection, contract signing and completion of the work within the agreed three-month period. Timely implementation will determine whether the upgrades are ready for the ground’s upcoming international fixtures.

For now, the project represents a planned improvement to the infrastructure surrounding Nepal’s principal cricket venue, where road access has remained a concern despite growing demands from domestic and international competitions.