Govt reverses Police Academy relocation decision

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 24: The government has decided to revere the relocation decision of the National Police Training Academy, from Maharajgunj, Kathmandu to Panauti of Kavreplanchok district.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar, on Thursday, decided to reverse the earlier government’s decision to relocate the Academy from Maharajgunj to Panauti. 

Informing about Thursday’s Cabinet decisions, Minister for Education, and Science and Technology, Sasmit Pokharel said, the Cabinet has reversed the erstwhile government’s decision made during the tenure of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on August 7, 2018. 

The under-construction project covers 114 ropani and 3 aana total areas in Panauti. Relocating the Academy from Maharajgunj, the former government had decided to transfer the registration to the name of the Office of the President for construction a separate helipad.

The land will now remain in use by the Training Academy as before at the same place, said Minister Pokharel, who is also the government spokesperson. According to the report of Nepal Police in its annual journal called ‘Police Mirror,’ the project is estimated to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 8.79 billion by 2025. The project is being undertaken with financial assistance from the government of India. 

Originally established in 1956 as the Central Police Training Centre to train police constables, the institution was renamed the National Police Training Academy in 1993. It is the country’s premier police training body, responsible for developing human resources within the Nepal Police through basic and specialised training.

The Academy focuses on modern training methods, improved administrative practices, and enhancing the professional skills of trainers and personnel, while also supporting reforms in the criminal justice system.

Many infrastructures have been built there in Panauti. The total built-up area will be 109,215 square metres. The complex will include residential facilities for 3,225 police personnel and accommodation for 125 guests, along with access roads, emergency stairs, fire alarm systems, and disabled-friendly pathways. 

Meanwhile, the Thursday’s cabinet has decided to form a dialogue team, led by a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Finance, to finalise financial agreements and related documents for a concessional loan of 115 million US dollars from the Asian Development Bank, according to Minister Pokharel. The funding is intended for an integrated drinking water supply and sewerage management project.

The meeting also agreed to form a study task force, coordinated by the Information and Communication Technology Adviser, to assess software and IT-related matters within government agencies.  However, the government spokesperson clarified that the issue of clearing encroached informal settlements was not discussed during the today’s Cabinet meeting.