Trauma centre construction incomplete even after extending contract twice

By Liladhar Oli,Ghorahi, July 3: As per the contract agreement, the Provincial Trauma Centre, now under construction in Lamahi Municipality-4, Dang, should have been operational by now. However, citing various reason, the construction of the trauma centre, which is a pride project of the Lumbini provincial government, has been delayed. 

The contract of the trauma centre was signed on March 12, 2021, with the completion deadline of July 8, 2023. But it has not been completed even after extending the contract for two times.   

The deadline was extended for the first time until May, 2023, after the work was not completed on the agreed date. When the work was not completed again by the extended deadline, the contract was extended for the second time to April 12, 2025, but the Urban Development and Building Office, Dang, has stated that the construction work could not be completed by that time either.  

The construction of the 50-bed trauma centre is being carried out by Lama & Gaurishankar Himalayan Construction Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu. 

Aita Singh Tamang, a representative of the construction company, said that although the construction work was underway, the work has been delayed due to no payment on time.

Construction of the four-story trauma centre, including a main building, a one-story doctor's quarters, a two-story doctor's quarters, a cafeteria and toilets, is underway in an area of about 22 katthas of land to treat accident victims and other patients in the Deukhuri area along the East-West Highway. However, the guard quarters and mortuary are yet to be built.

The Urban Development and Buildings Office had signed a contract agreement with Lama & Gauri Shankar Himalayan Construction Pvt. Ltd. for the construction of the building for Rs. 219.337 million including VAT.

Bamdev Khanal, Information Officer at the Urban Development and Building Office, Dang, said that the construction work is underway to house orthopaedic specialists, neurosurgeons, general surgeons, anaesthesia, nursing and paramedic teams at the trauma centre. According to him, although there is a need to construct the building and operate the trauma centre as soon as possible, there has been a delay due to financial problems.

Information Officer Khanal said, "Despite urging the construction business to complete the work within the extended deadline, construction is being delayed due to financial problems. He said that after the contract deadline expired, an application for an extension of the deadline was submitted to the office on April 29, 2025, on behalf of the construction company, and the office prepared the file of the application and sent it to the provincial ministry.

A representative of the construction company Lama & Gauri Shankar Himalayan Construction Pvt. Ltd., said that about 85 per cent of the construction work has been completed and the remaining work of the trauma centre will be done next fiscal year. 

It will take about six months to complete the construction of the building. Although the work of the main building has been completed, works such as wiring, marble, AC installation, etc. are still pending. 

The office has stated that more than Rs. 142 million have been paid for the construction of the Trauma Center building so far.