Lumbini Hospital construction picks pace

By Kapil Gyawali.Siddharthanagar, Dec. 7: The construction of the 10-storey building at Lumbini Provincial Hospital is progressing rapidly, with 32 per cent physical completion achieved so far. The hospital is also considered a pride project of the Lumbini Provincial Government.

According to Chhabiraj Pokharel, Executive Director of the Lumbini Provincial Infrastructure Development Authority, the building has achieved 32 per cent physical progress and 27 per cent financial progress so far.

Serving patients from Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Dang, Syangja and surrounding areas for over 115 years, the hospital has faced increasing patient pressure. In response, the provincial government has upgraded the hospital with the new 12-storey building as a pride project.

The hospital’s expansion covers approximately 7,700 square metres (1 bigha 2 kathha 14 dhur), comprising two new buildings. The main 12-storey building will house 700 beds, while a four-storey cancer building with a basement and specialized care is also under construction. 

The contract for the construction was awarded on January 11, 2024 to the Indian company Cap Site Ashish Railgate Venture and the Nepali company Ashish Railgesion for Rs. 618 million. The estimated total cost, including fully equipped buildings and internal management, is Rs. 899,756,400. The project is scheduled for completion within five years, by January 9, 2029. 

Currently, more than 300 personnel are deployed at the site.

Although the government designated the hospital as a pride project, the allocated budget has not been sufficient. Of the Rs. 100 million set aside for the current fiscal year 2025/26, Rs. 85 million was used to settle payments for work completed in the previous year. 

Only Rs. 15 million has been paid for this year’s work, leaving Rs. 24 million still due for work completed by mid-November. 

Due to the shortfall, the provincial government has requested an additional Rs. 80 million for the current fiscal year. 

Pokharel said, “At least Rs. 25 million is still due, and based on current progress, an additional Rs. 80 million will be needed to complete the work over the remaining eight months.”

He added that if payments to the construction companies are made regularly, the work could be completed ahead of schedule.

Site engineer Shankar said that although the contract allows 20 per cent advance payment, the company received 18 per cent. 

Advance payments cannot be deducted until 30 per cent of the work is completed. With the current pace, around 50 per cent of the work is expected to complete by mid-July.

“The work schedule requires 47 per cent completion this fiscal year, but we expect to achieve 50 per cent given current rate pf progress,” Subedi said.

The design and quality supervision of the building have been entrusted to Kathmandu Uniconsultancy, under Kathmandu University, through a G2G arrangement. 

A 16-member technical team from Kathmandu University monitors the materials and quality of work on-site.