The Federal Parliament building is currently under construction inside the Singha Durbar complex.
On Friday, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal inspected the site and directed officials to speed up construction of the new Parliament building.
After receiving updates on the latest progress, he instructed that work be completed in time to conduct the upcoming parliamentary session in the new building.
He noted that both the pace and quality of construction have not met expectations, making it clear that the required urgency has not been visible. However, he acknowledged that some progress has been made recently.
Dahal said that he has repeatedly directed authorities to ensure the building is completed before the House convenes. He added that he summoned the secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and other relevant officials to his office a few days ago and gave them instructions.
According to him, even if all structures within the complex cannot be completed immediately, at minimum the halls for the House of Representatives and the National Assembly must be ready. He said that pressure has been exerted on the government and contractors to ensure that Parliament sessions following the election are held in the new building.
Government data shows that about 88 percent of the construction work has been completed so far.
The foundation stone for the building was laid on September 18, 2019, but even after six years, the project has not been completed. However, work is currently progressing rapidly with the aim of administering the oath of office to lawmakers elected to the House of Representatives in the March 5 election in the new building.
Construction of the House of Representatives meeting hall is moving ahead rapidly. Some seats have already been installed in the under-construction hall. Work is currently underway to make the hall soundproof. However, work on the ceiling has not yet been begun. Until the ceiling is completed, electrical wiring, air-conditioning systems, and microphone systems cannot be installed.
Elsewhere in the complex, work is ongoing to build vehicle parking facilities, install iron gates at the entrance, and lay underground electrical cables.
At the time of awarding the contract, the estimated cost of the building was Rs 5.67 billion. After five deadline extensions, the cost has now risen to Rs 6.3 billion. In addition to the construction cost, a separate contract worth Rs 2.34 billion has been awarded for interior furnishing and installation of the microphone system. Combined, the total cost of the project is projected to reach Rs 8.64 billion.
Structures for party offices, the secretariat building, facilities for security personnel, and underground parking have been built within the under-construction Parliament complex.
