Bus terminal operation from Old Bus Park being delayed

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Feb. 24: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has shown no interest in operating the bus terminal which was closed after works to construct the view tower, whose construction is in progress, began in the old bus park. Since then, the buses have been parked on the roadside, causing inconvenience to the pedestrians as well as the drivers.  

It has been nearly eight years since the construction began, but the metropolis has not decided to bring it into operation although the structure of the tower has already been ready. 

Management of the passengers and public buses has become a problem after the bus park was closed to pave way for erecting the tower. 

Nabin Manandhar, spokesperson for the KMC, said it was unclear when the bus terminal would come online.    

“We are unable to announce the operating time of the building. CEO of the company Manoj Bhetwal was out of the contact, and his absence has made it hard to proceed ahead with other works,” Manandhar said, adding that the term of the contract was expiring next month. 

Meanwhile, police arrested Bhetwal on Wednesday. 

He said that construction work on the 12th floor was underway and that discussion was going on whether to construct extra two floors because they had planned to construct only up to 12th floor. 

The project agreement to complete the tower construction within five years was signed between the Jaleshwor Swochchhanda Bikoi Builders Pvt Ltd and KMC on March 6, 2015. 

The construction of the view tower started in mid-July 2016 by shifting the bus park to another place. Initially, the plan was to construct a 29-storey building, but the KMC later scaled down to 12. 

The delay in the confusion has bred a confusion surrounding the city bus park, creating a chaos in Ratna Park area for years now.  

Initially, the bus park, where the view tower is under construction, was shifted to Khulamanch, but from Khulamanch, it was removed in April 29, 2021. 

Upon completion, the tower is planned to house the bus park at its underground.  

Spokesperson Manandhar said they needed further discussion regarding the operating system of the building. 

It remains unsure whether the current leadership of the metropolis will abide by the previous agreement to operate public buses from the building. 

The KMC has been asking the company to make ready the double floors of the underground parking of the building for the management of the vehicles. The two underground floors, the ground and the first floor of the building will be used for parking for the vehicles, he said.  

The company had signed an agreement with the KMC under public-private partnership model. As per the agreement, the company would build the tower and it will become the KMC’s property after 30 years.  The tower is spread over the 23 ropanis of land.