Kathmandu, April 16
The government of Nepal is preparing to construct a new Parliament building in Singhadarbar. The government has estimated that it will take around two years to complete the construction work.
Before the peace process in mid 2000s, both houses of Parliament would hold their meetings in their own buildings in Singhadarbar. However, after the then Maoist rebels agreed to join Parliament, its size increased and the buildings in Singhadarbar could not accommodate them.
Since then the meetings are being held at the International Convention Centre in Naya Baneshwor, which has cost the government millions of rupees.
The Ministry of Urban Development has already finalised the design for the new building. Officials at the Ministry inform that it will call for tenders within this month and the construction works will begin next month.
“If the project will not be over in two years,” an official says, “We will extend the contract by six months.”
In the new building, offices of parliamentary parties, the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will be kept close to each other. There will also be a garden and an open space.
The government will spend Rs 10 billion for the construction. The Ministry of Finance has already approved the budget.
