New Parliament Building Nears Completion Ahead of Upcoming Elections, Still Lags Behind Schedule

Kathmandu. As the date for the House of Representatives election approaches on the upcoming 21st of Falgun, the new parliament building under construction in Singha Durbar is still not fully ready for the elected lawmakers. According to government statistics, the building construction is only about 88 percent complete so far.

Parliament sessions have historically been held at the International Convention Centre in New Baneshwor. However, due to vandalism and arson during the Janatagene (People's Movement) protests, the venue is no longer suitable for reconvening parliamentary sessions. Consequently, preparations are underway to hold the next parliamentary session in the new building currently under construction within Singha Durbar.

The contract with the construction company was signed on October 2, 2019 (2076 Ashoj 16 BS) with a target completion time of three years and a cost of five billion two crore rupees. However, as the stipulated deadline passed without completion, the deadline has been extended multiple times. The construction responsibility has been given to the Special Building Project under the Ministry of Urban Development.

The President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Chairman of the National Assembly, chairpersons of parliamentary committees, and departmental ministers have been inspecting the construction site and directing for the speedy completion of the work. Nevertheless, a clear timeline for when the construction work will be finalized has not yet been publicly announced.

According to the Ministry of Urban Development, the new parliament building being constructed in the Putali Bagaincha area of Singha Durbar will feature state-of-the-art facilities. The complex includes offices for the parliamentary parties, the Parliament Secretariat, and necessary structures for the National Assembly and the House of Representatives.

The building is designed with separate entry gates for VVIPs and different gates for staff and the general public. Inside the building, the Parliament Secretariat will be on one side and the House of Representatives meeting hall on the other. Behind the Secretariat and the House of Representatives will be the offices of the parliamentary parties and the chamber for the National Assembly.

The new building will have a House of Representatives meeting hall with a capacity of 700 seats, with 400 seats in the main hall and 300 seats in the balcony. A capacity of 290 seats has been arranged for the National Assembly, and a joint lobby capable of accommodating 350 people has been constructed. Additionally, meeting rooms and offices for parliamentary parties of ten small and large political parties have been prepared.

Exclusive chambers have also been constructed for the Prime Minister, Speaker, Chairman of the National Assembly, and the chief whips of the parties. The government had been operating parliamentary sessions by renting the International Convention Centre in New Baneshwor since 2007 (2064 BS). Photos: Nepal Photo Library