The government is gearing up to construct a new convention center at Bhaktapur. The new convention center will be two-and-a-half times larger than the International Convention Center at New Baneshwor.
The Cabinet meeting held some days ago took the decision to build the state-of-the-art center in the land owned by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in Bhaktapur.
Earlier, the Ministry of Urban Development had written to the Cabinet about building a convention center with prefabricated structures. The ministry was earlier preparing to construct a prefab building for the Indian 'Zee Cine Awards'.
However, the government changed its earlier planning and has decided to construct a state-of-the-art building.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Bishnu Rimal, told Setopati that the decision to construct the large building has been taken as Nepal lacks a large hall to organize any international conference. The International Convention Center at New Baneshwor which is being used as the federal parliament building can only accommodate 2,000 persons at a time.
Rimal further informed Setopati that the government has decided to construct a permanent structure for convention center so that it can accommodate 5,000 persons.
"We will need the convention center for future as well. So, we've reached a conclusion of constructing a permanent structure," he said.
The ICC building covering an area of 154 ropanis has been constructed in pagoda style. The new building will cover 159 ropanis.
The Ministry of Urban Development has started preparations to construct the center following the Cabinet's decision. Spokesperson at the Ministry Joint Secretary Krishna Prasad Dawadi said the construction process will move forward after designs and cost are finalized.
