Construction Halts on Multi-purpose Covered Hall in Kanchanpur Due to Design Dispute

Kanchanpur. Construction on the multi-purpose covered hall being built on the premises of the covered hall in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, with support from the Sudurpashchim Province Government, has been stalled for eight months.

Although 70 percent of the work on the multi-purpose covered hall, which began construction in Asar of BS 2080 with provincial government support, is complete, the work has stopped due to a dispute regarding the construction of the parapet. Sunil Kunwar, operator of Baijanath-Contour JV, which was awarded the contract for the covered hall construction, stated that work has been halted for eight months because a Variation Order (VO) for the parapet construction has not been issued.

"Although the process for the VO was initiated eight months ago, there has been no response from the provincial government," he said. "The Provincial Ministry of Social Development should resolve this matter, but it has been delayed."

The construction company stated that the deadline for the covered hall, which is being built at a cost of thirteen crore three lakh twenty-eight thousand rupees, is until Asar of the coming year. Although the contract stipulated completion within thirty months, the work could not proceed due to procedural delays by the government.

Ramesh Airy, an engineer from the Social Development Office in Dhangadhi who provides technical support to the Provincial Ministry of Social Development, stated that the issue concerning the parapet construction of the Mahendranagar covered hall will be resolved soon.

"There is a plan to construct the parapet using brick steps," Engineer Airy said. "Now, this matter will be finalized at the secretary level soon, and work will move forward." He added that once the covered hall is complete, it will facilitate various sports operations and regular training.

Although the Sports Academy in Tikapur was completed last year, the construction company has not been able to hand it over. The handover has been delayed because the Provincial Ministry of Social Development has not been able to formulate the operating procedures for the academy, which was built at a cost of ten crore rupees. Dhanraj Dhami, Senior Education Officer at the Ministry's Special Education, Educational Planning, and Youth and Sports Branch, stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the operational style of the academy.