After a seven-month hiatus, construction of the long-delayed indoor multi-sports hall at Damphu town in Tsirang resumed this month. The project was halted in February last year when the Tsirang District Tender Committee terminated the previous contract for repeatedly missing deadlines. The new contractor now has ten months to complete the remaining work.
Construction of the single-storey indoor multi-sports hall began in 2020 and was initially scheduled for completion by May 2021.
Despite extensions given considering disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contractor failed to complete the deadline. By January last year, only 70 per cent of work was completed.
The contract was then terminated and a dispute between the contractor and the district administration was taken to the Bhutan Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre.
With the district administration winning the case, construction work resumed this month. The new contractor will now focus on major tasks such as roofing, plastering, flooring, and other interior work.
Once complete, the sports arena will feature basketball, badminton, and table tennis courts. The hall will also offer spaces for boxers and karate enthusiasts.
This recent development has renewed the hope of sports enthusiasts in the district.
“Youth in Damphu town have been waiting a long time for the sports hall. Once it’s completed, it will benefit us immensely. Currently, we play basketball near the district court but it is inconvenient when it rains,” said Thukten Wangchuk, a sports enthusiast.
“We are happy to see the construction of the sports hall resume. We are looking forward to playing at the indoor multi-sports hall on the weekends,” said Karma Lhendup, another sports enthusiast.
The district engineer said the administration is optimistic about completing the remaining work on time, given the current progress.
So far, the project has spent over Nu 16 M with the remaining works costing another Nu 28 M.
The district engineer added that some additional facilities such as a car park will be included in the project that were not part of the initial design.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
