Manoj Tiwari

Patna, Jan. 3: Bhojpuri singer and actor Manoj Tiwari kept his promise of a temple dedicated to Team India. He has now decided to build an international-standard cricket stadium.

The stadium will come up at the same place as the temple Tiwari has dedicated to Team India — Atarwalia in Kaimur district, around 190km west of Patna. He has purchased 40 acres of land beside the temple for the stadium, which he terms a dream project.

Elaborating his plans, Tiwari said: “I have purchased 40 acres of land for Rs 4 crore at my native place (in Atarwalia) to build the stadium. I am speaking to state government officials to provide me the necessary facilities. It is my dream project to build a stadium with all the international amenities.

“The total cost of building the stadium is around Rs 250 crore. A few industrialists are also lending their hand to this noble cause. The stadium would have a seating capacity of 35,000. Experts of Wankhede stadium, Mumbai, will also help me. The pitch curator of the stadium has agreed to help me out on my dream project as well,” he added.

The Bhojpuri artiste said he would send an official letter to the Bihar government about his proposed stadium on January 15.

He said: “I need the co-operation of the state government because it is not possible to build the stadium without their support. A major problem would be supplying power to the stadium. If it has to host international matches, floodlight would be a priority and for that, you need enough power supply. A senior official in Bihar State Electricity Board has promised to furnish me details on the power situation in the state.”

“I will send an official letter to the chief minister’s secretariat on January 15. Copies will also be forwarded to the departments of art, cultural and youth affairs and tourism,” said Tiwari.

The artiste, however, admitted that building a stadium would not be an easy task.

“Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, the lone cricket ground in the state, which has even hosted a few international matches, is in a bad shape. I know it would be a big challenge to build my stadium. But I have taken the decision and I will make it happen,” stressed Tiwari.

While the temple would be complete in another two months, Tiwari said the stadium could take six-seven years to complete.