Reconstruction of Bhainsepati Ministers’ Quarters begins

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Reconstruction has commenced at the newly built ministerial residential quarters in Bhainsepati, Lalitpur, which were left uninhabitable after being torched during the Gen Z Movement protests on September 9, last year.

With 24 days having passed since the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, authorities have moved to restore the damaged complex so that ministers can be accommodated in official quarters. 

At present, the administration lacks sufficient habitable quarters for cabinet members, prompting an urgent rebuilding initiative.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Chakraworti Kantha, Chief of the Federal Secretariat Construction and Management Office and Superintendent Engineer, said reconstruction has already begun on 11 of the fire-ravaged buildings.

He said that these 11 quarters constitute the first phase of the restoration project, while preparations are under way to begin work on the remaining damaged structures.

The Bhainsepati complex comprises 27 buildings in total. Of these, 21 are designated for Cabinet ministers, three for assistant or state ministers, and another three reserved for the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Vice-Chairperson, and the Deputy Speaker.

Kantha said the residences designated for the Home Minister, Finance Minister and National Assembly Chairperson sustained some of the heaviest damage during the September 9 unrest. Reconstruction of 11 quarters, including those intended for senior ministers, began around two weeks ago.

At the time of the violence, 26 of the 27 buildings reportedly suffered varying degrees of damage. As a consequence, many ministers in the interim administration led by Sushila Karki were compelled to remain in their private homes. Only Sports Minister Bablu Gupta had moved into the Bhainsepati quarters, while Education Minister Mahabir Pun had stayed within his ministry premises at Singha Durbar.

Among the 15 members of Prime Minister Balen Shah’s current Cabinet, only one minister has so far relocated to the Bhainsepati quarters, while five others have taken up residence in the older ministerial compound at Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

Kantha said the sole undamaged building in the new Bhainsepati complex is currently occupied by Urban Development Minister Sunil Lamsal. The same residence had earlier housed former Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta under the interim administration.

Those residing at the older Harihar Bhawan ministerial quarters include Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam, Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, and Health Minister Nisha Mehta.

Previously, after ministers vacated Harihar Bhawan for Bhainsepati, Supreme Court judges had begun using the former ministerial residences in Pulchowk. However, as not all 19 houses there were occupied, several remained vacant and have now been reassigned to current Cabinet ministers.

A residence had also been reserved for former Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Sah, but following his dismissal by the Prime Minister, he was unable to move in. The same quarter has now reportedly been booked by Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Minister Khadga Raj Paudel (Ganesh), although he has yet to move in.

The remaining ministers are still living in their private homes. Officials say efforts are under way to transfer them into government accommodation as soon as feasible.

“There is also discussion on whether rented houses should be arranged for other ministers. We are trying to align the budget. As soon as a decision is reached, we will open the tender process,” Kantha said.

The reconstruction work currently under way has been entrusted to Dev Ganesh Construction Company. Meanwhile, tenders for the remaining buildings were opened last week, and once the evaluation process is completed, the second phase of rebuilding will begin.

“All work is targeted to be completed by mid-July, 2026,” Kantha added.