View tower in Damak in final stage of construction

By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel,Damak, Nov. 6: Construction of the tallest view tower under construction in Tukure of Damak Municipality-3, Jhapa, has reached the final stage, and local tourists have started thronging the tower. 

The government unveiled a plan to construct the tallest view tower in Damak in 2015. The construction work began in 2016 after local residents donated the land to erect it. Even though the foundation for the Damak View Tower, one of the national pride projects, was laid long ago, the actual construction work began only on July 12, 2019.

A Chinese company, ZCGIEC, in collaboration with Ashish and Om Sairam JV received the contract for the construction of the 21-storey view tower, with 18 concrete floors and an additional three metal floors on the top. The construction agreement was formalised on July 12, 2019, with a stipulated completion date of January 11, 2022. However, the construction has not been concluded and handed over as of now.

The view tower’s entire structure stands at a height of 100 meters, surpassing the Dharahara in Kathmandu by 16 meters. There have been repeated time extensions, with delays attributed to budget constraints and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Intensive Urban and Building Construction Project in Jhapa has awarded the contract for the View Tower project at Rs. 1.56 billion.

Ward chairman of Damak Municipality-3 Nabin Baral has clarified that the building under construction is not just a view tower but also a multi-purpose commercial building. He mentioned that the construction work took a considerable amount of time, and it was not solely focused on the view tower. “It took a lot of time for people to understand that the project involves more than just the view tower, it is also a commercial building,” he added.

The design of the structures within the view tower includes shops, a seminar hall, a hotel, a restaurant, and a bar, along with underground parking. Additionally, there are plans for a children’s park, a playhouse, and a theatre.

 “With the inclusion of a cultural museum, the tower is expected to become a tourist destination area Nepal could feel proud,” said Baral.

Bhupendra Yadav, the site engineer for the Intensive Urban and Building Construction Project in Jhapa, stated that over 90 per cent of the construction works have already been finished. The primary structure is completed, and they are currently working on the structures surrounding the view tower.

Rupak Dahal, a local landowner, said that domestic tourists from different districts have started visiting the tower. He mentioned that various groups, including students, agricultural associations, religious congregations, and others, are arriving in Damak from different parts of the country to behold the view tower.

He also expressed the need to improve the road leading to the view tower. About 500 metres of the road leading to the tower remains unpaved, and he emphasised the need of blacktopping the road to ease the travel of the tourists.