The government on Tuesday allocated Rs 2.4 billion for infrastructure development and preparations for the upcoming South Asian Games and Asian Games.

The amount is almost half the total budget of Rs 4.18 billion allocated for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Presenting the budget for year 2018-19, Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada, said that sports sector will be given high priority for physical and mental development of youths. “Rs 2.4 billion has been allocated to prepare for 18th Asian Games besides preparations and infrastructure development of the 13th South Asian Games,” said Khatiwada.

Nepal has shouldered the responsibility to host the 13th South Asian Games from March 9-18 in Kathmandu. Nepal are also gearing up for the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2 later this year. Khatiwad added that the Ministry has made arrangements of budget for feasibility study of stadium construction under partnership with local bodies. “Budget have been allocated for construction of at least one provincial level stadium in each province,” Khatiwada said.

Of the total budget allocated for Youth and Sports ministry, Rs 1.51 billion have been allocated as recurrent expenditure and Rs 2.25 billion as capital expenditure. Among the total budget, Rs 3.75 billion have been allocated to the federal government, Rs 280 million to provincial governments and Rs 150 million to local governments. The total budget is almost double the budget allocated of about Rs 2 billion for 2017-18.