The Tundikhel ground in Tansen is becoming dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. The ground, which was upgraded only two years ago after five years, is now deteriorating due to the neglect of the Tansen Municipality, locals complain. There are potholes where the dubo was planted. Recently, the players have been facing uncomfortable conditions during their daily practice.

‘We were very happy that the ground was upgraded,’ said Palpa District Football Association President Pranay Birjung Rana, ‘As the potholes and the dugouts are dying, it has become difficult for players to practice.’ He said that all types of sports are being played on the upgraded grass field, which is deteriorating and creating more problems in sports practice.

According to him, sports enthusiasts and players were excited after the Tundikhel ground was upgraded. The upgrade work was completed in three years. Only two years ago, the work of leveling the ground, laying the dugouts, and constructing the football court were completed. Although some hope has been raised in the sports development of Tansen after the upgrade, President Rana complains that the ground is now abandoned due to the municipality’s negligence. ‘The playground was prepared at a cost of crores of rupees,’ he said, ‘but due to lack of regular maintenance, it is now becoming dilapidated.’ The municipality needs to pay attention immediately.'

It was natural for the players to be excited after the Tundikhel, known as the jewel of Tansen, was upgraded. Earlier, due to the lack of upgrade, the players were not able to practice any game for five years. Player Abin Pulami complains that the municipality has neglected the ground even after the upgrade was completed according to the Tundikhel improvement plan.

He said that the ground, which was upgraded at a cost of nearly 40 million rupees, has become a pothole due to lack of maintenance. It has become a state of being dusty. According to another player, Kamal Gaha, it has become difficult to practice. 'I have even fallen and injured myself during regular practice,' he said. 'Regular maintenance should have been arranged.'

After the Tundikhel upgrade in Tansen, which does not experience extreme cold or heat, it was expected that the association, state and district level competitions would continue. Player Ayush Adhikari said that although it is convenient for practice, no attention has been paid to its maintenance. ‘Fairs and festivals were organized here in the past years,’ he said, ‘but the money raised from that was not used for this investment, so the situation has worsened.’

The number of players who come to Tundikhel for regular practice is more than a hundred daily. But a separate ground has not been upgraded for practice. Palpa Football Academy chief coach Ritesh Malla suggests that the main football ground can be saved only if a different place is made for regular practice. ‘All types of sports are played on the main football ground, so it quickly collapsed,’ he said, ‘The municipality needs to pay attention to this in a timely manner.’

Tansen Municipality had upgraded the ground at a cost of 38.294 million rupees. Mayor Santosh Lal Shrestha said that even though the trees were planted, they died due to the daily practice of the players and there was a problem of lack of greenery. The municipality seems to be confused about the maintenance of the field. ‘The level was upgraded but it could not be put to proper use,’ he said, ‘A very expensive tree was planted, but it could not be saved.’ According to him, the municipality is thinking of creating separate places for practicing various sports, but no decision has been made on how to move forward in the future.

The Palpa Gold Cup Open Football Tournament was completed after the field was ready. After that, no major tournaments have been organized. Along with the football field, Tundikhel also has a senior citizen-friendly venue and a children's park. Ram Prasad Shrestha, the municipality's engineer, said that a children's park, senior citizen center and rest area have been built along with the upgrading of the football field. Although there is a plan to increase the beauty of Tundikhel by planting various types of flowers around Tundikhel as per the master plan, some work has not been able to move forward. Along with the upgrading of the football field in Tundikhel, a footpath block and a mini stage have also been built.