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By Bhakti Bilas Pokharel, Gaighat, Dec. 21: Construction of the Madan Bhandari Auditorium in Gaighat, the district headquarters of Udayapur, has remained incomplete even eight years after work began. 

Envisioned as a model auditorium in Koshi Province, its construction has been delayed due to negligence of the construction companies and irresponsibility on the part of concerned government offices. The deadlines have already been extended 

The nationally significant project, under construction at the Tharuhat Stadium in Triyuga Municipality-13, has been left in limbo due to budget shortages, serious technical lapses and legal complications.

Its construction began on April 23, 2017, with a plan to complete all works within three years under the ‘Smart City’ concept for Triyuga Municipality.

Initially, Rabina Joshi–Pabitra JV won the contract to complete the project at a cost of Rs. 270 million. However, before the first phase was completed, the Intensive Urban Development and Building Construction Project Office, Rajbiraj, called for a second-phase tender. 

Although the estimated cost was Rs. 198.1 million, Sun Koshi Construction was awarded the contract in December 2022, for Rs. 180.2 million, with a deadline to complete the work by mid-May 2024.

According to site engineer Shravan Kumar Yadav, more than 15 per cent of the second-phase work still remains unfinished despite two deadline extensions. 

During this period, the construction company has already received payments exceeding Rs. 146.6 million. Works such as furniture installation, carpeting, doors, windows and painting are yet to be completed. As the contractual deadline has expired, a third extension is now being considered.

Officials said the project stalled mainly due to a court case filed by the first contractor at the High Court in Biratnagar over payment and technical issues, and weaknesses in the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Legal hurdles have prevented further progress until a final verdict is issued.

Although the DPR initially estimated the cost at Rs. 240 million, it later proved insufficient based on the actual design and requirements. 

According to a technical expert, completing the entire structure would require nearly Rs. 1 billion but awarding the project in fragmented contracts further complicated the construction process.

Surendra Kumar Sah, chief of the Federal Urban Development and Building Construction Office, Morang, said the deadline for the second phase has also expired and discussions are underway on whether to penalise the contractor or cancel the contract altogether.

He added that a third-phase tender would be required to complete the auditorium, and while cost estimates are being prepared, the higher authority has decided that the Rajbiraj office will again oversee the project. As a result, the budget allocated to his office has already been frozen, leaving uncertainty over the project’s future.

Spread over two bighas of land, the auditorium includes two halls-one with a seating capacity of 1,500 and another for 500 people. It also features disability-friendly toilets, underground parking, a guest house and staff quarters. Once completed, the facility is expected to be a major asset not only for Udayapur but for the entire Koshi Province.

However, repeated tendering, frequent deadline extensions, shifting responsibility between offices in Morang and Saptari, and court cases filed by contractors have raised serious questions about governance and project management, putting the ‘Smart City’ vision itself under scrutiny.