By Bishnu Pandey, Kathmandu, Nov. 13: According to the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), the reconstruction work of the Dharahara tower has been completed 70 per cent so far.

NEA CEO Sushil Gyawali said that the reconstruction work of the tower is almost 70 per cent complete. Although the tower was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on April 24, 2021, the work was yet to be completed.

Gyawali said that the reconstruction work of the tower was almost 56 per cent completed during the inauguration. There were some difficulties in the work after the second wave of COVID-19 started after the inauguration.

"As soon as the second wave of COVID-19 started, the work was disrupted. The workers were infected with the coronavirus and the work could not be carried out quickly," he said.

Gyawali said that there was some hindrance in the work as the festival started with the reduction of coronavirus infection. However, He claims that the work is progressing. "Some media have reported that the Dharahara has not been rebuilt at all. But, it is not true, the work has been done.' he added.

NRA had set a target of completing the reconstruction of the tower within this month. Gyawali said that the three-storey parking building under the tower, museum work, administrative building and the road connecting Tundikhel to Khichapokhari are yet to be constructed. "Similarly, the work of building a bridge and decorating Sundhara is still pending," he said.

Gyawali has claimed that the remaining work of rebuilding the tower will be completed by April-May next year. "The government has said it will extend the six-month duration of the project, which has been hit by the coronavirus infection and will complete the work in the remaining six months," Gyawali said.

NEA, which is preparing for the dissolution, is preparing to hand over the responsibility of rebuilding the tower to the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. Raman Construction has been entrusted with the task of rebuilding the tower.