Chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh directed officials concerned to ensure that the international sports stadium under construction at Gaulapar in Haldwani should be transferred to the department concerned by March next year without fail. Singh said this while inspecting the stadium and site of the proposed inter state bus terminal at Teenpani in Haldwani on Thursday.

While inspecting the stadium at Gaulapar, the chief secretary said that many works are still incomplete in this stadium being built according to international standards. He told the officials of the executing agency that construction of the stadium should be complete and it should be handed over by March 2019 without fail so that sports activities can begin here.

Singh also inspected the forest land near the Uttarakhand open university where the ISBT is slated to be constructed.

He later said that considering the population of Haldwani and it being the entry point to Kumaon, construction of a modern ISBT is among the top priorities of the State Government. As per the directions of the State Government, the administration is working on it with seriousness and swiftness, he said. He said that a final decision will be taken soon by the administration regarding the land for the proposed ISBT.

After selection of the land, no objection certificate will be secured from the forest department and then the construction work will be started. He said that no special problems are faced in securing no-objection certificate from the forest department for developmental works.

Considering public interest, the forest department also accords its cooperation in facilitation of developmental works, said the chief secretary.