Speaker Ghimire expresses displeasure at slow pace of construction of Parliament Building

Kathmandu, July 19: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said the works on the under-construction Parliament Building at Singha Durbar are not satisfactory. 

The Speaker summoned the officials of the concerned bodies to his office in Singha Durbar today and expressed his displeasure in the context of the construction works on the Building not completing within the deadline. An agreement was reached with the contractor on October 3, 2019 for the construction of the Parliament Building within three years of the signing of the contract. 

On the occasion, the Speaker reminded that a minute has been made before this to complete the construction of all the 12 structures of the Parliament Building within December 15, 2024 to be ready for convening the upcoming winter session of the parliament in own building, and instructed the officials concerned to carry out works accordingly. 

"It is seen that Seven-inch-TV screens have been installed in the building whereas 15-inches TV screens are available in the market these days. The scripts would appear bigger in big screens. Attention should be paid to this matter as well. A review meeting would be called after a month to assess the progress of building construction. Works should be carried out so as to complete the construction of the building within the extended deadline,' the Speaker said.

National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal said that the basis for extension of the deadline should be clear, adding the Parliament Building should be decorated in an attractive manner as it is a national asset with international image. 

He also called attention of the officials concerned towards the traffic jam that would be caused when hundreds of cars will attempt to enter the Parliament Building at once through the gate towards Anamnagar. He urged them to think about this problem as well.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, asserted that the construction of the Parliament Building should be completed strictly within the deadline and meeting all the required quality standards as the Building is a national priority project.

Deputy Speaker Indira Rana said that materials used for internal furnishing of the Parliament Building should be in accordance with the specifications mentioned in the agreement.

National Assembly Vice Chairperson Bimala Ghimire stressed on the urgent need of completing the Building construction within the coming November so that the facility would be ready for convening the winter session of parliament.

Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development Maniram Gelal said construction works would be carried out expeditiously so that the buildings of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly would be ready for hosting the winter session of parliament. 

He said although the contractor had been instructed to employ 500 workers daily, only about 150 workers are employed at present.

Macha Kaji Maharjan, Project Director of the Special Building Construction Project Coordination Office under the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, shared that so far the physical progress was 81.5 per cent and the financial progress was 70 per cent. 

He also informed the meeting that the time for completing all the works of the project and its handover has been extended till March 31, 2025. (RSS)