The federal parliament building is being constructed at a cost of Rs 5.5 Arba

After 2062/63, there was a lot of turmoil in the politics of the country. The country has gone from a multi-party system to a republic through democracy. But, unfortunately, despite the rapid change in the political situation in the country, for a period of 12 years, the legislature of Nepal, namely the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, is still working in a rented building at the International Conference Center in New Baneshwor. However, within the next two years, the federal parliament's dilapidated and self-owned building is being prepared.  

The KP Sharma Oli-led government is constructing 12 state-of-the-art buildings, including eight main buildings, on 151 ropanis of land around Putlibagancha in Singha Durbar. The government has been constructing its own building at Singha Durbar at a cost of Rs 5.68 billion including VAT to fill the shortage of its own parliament building.

Dilip Shekhar Shrestha, project director of the Special Building Construction Project Coordination Office under the Urban and Building Department, said that the federal parliament building would be constructed in a way that reflects the local architecture of Kathmandu.

It is constructing 12 state-of-the-art buildings including 8 main buildings on 151 ropanis of land around Putali Garden in Singha Durbar. The government is going to construct its own building at a cost of Rs 5.68 billion to fill the shortage of the parliament building.

"The federal parliament building will be constructed with the help of high-tech modern engineering design technology," he said.  

The government is going to construct the main master plan by dividing it into four areas. The structure of the Federal Parliament building currently under construction will occupy 27 percent of the land. Roads and other waterbody-related infrastructures will be constructed in 45 percent of the open green area and in other areas. According to the master plan of the federal parliament building, the main entrance will be placed on the south side.  

The government has built eight large and four small buildings, including the House of Representatives, National Assembly building, common lobby, office building for dignitaries, library/museum, parliamentary party office building, parliamentary committee building, fireplace, press/printing building, and 700 vehicle parking and security personnel building. Being built

A new attractive gate will be placed on the north side, i.e. from the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, to allow the parliamentarians of the federal parliament to enter. Gates will be kept in the southeast for the entry of staff and the general public. Arrangements can be made to enter only by checking with the latest security technology.  

Building to be completed within three years, 20 percent physical progress

The contract for the Federal Parliament Building was awarded to Tundi-SHEC Joint Venture on 16 September 2076. The construction company aims to complete the construction within three years. Engineer Dhamendra Panthi of the Special Building Construction Project Coordination Office said that the physical progress of the federal parliament building was 20 percent. "We have now provided more than 95 percent of the sites to the contractor company," he said. The office said the federal parliament's financial progress so far has been 16.74 percent. Seventeen companies had participated in the contract for the construction of the federal parliament building of national importance.  

The contract was awarded by Tundi-SHEC Joint Venture at 26 percent less than the estimated cost. Engineer Panthi said that it took more than 15 months to clear the site of Singha Durbar premises. "On the land of the federal parliament building under construction, there were Nepal Army's Chandi Dal, Brandbaja Dal as well as high-tension power lines," he said, "so it took some time to clear the site." Himal KC, the senior divisional engineer of the office, said that the building of the federal parliament was constructed in an earthquake-resistant manner. "It is being constructed in such a way that it can withstand an earthquake like the one in 2072 BS," he said. "As it is a building of national importance, there has been no negligence in security."

95 percent site clear

Project Director Shrestha says that the project has been requesting the contractor company to complete the construction within the stipulated time. "When the construction of the federal parliament building started, only 25 percent of the sites were cleared," he said. "Now, 95 percent of the sites have been cleared." So now we expect the construction of the federal parliament building to pick up speed. The government has decided to extend the deadline by six months, saying that the construction sector has been adversely affected due to Covid 19.  

The first floor of the House of Representatives is being demolished

At present, the Birendra International Conference is being held in Baneshwor, the building of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Parliament has been operating from this building since the Constituent Assembly of 2064 BS. The House of Representatives and the National Assembly are still operating from the same building in Baneshwor. The three-story building of the House of Representatives is under construction. The slope of the first floor of the three-story building of the House of Representatives is being prepared so far. A large hall with a capacity of 400 members is being constructed in the House of Representatives.  

While the House of Representatives will have 165 members from the direct party and 110 members from the proportional party, some large structures are being constructed in the building. Various technical rooms, Speaker's Room, Press Conference Room, VIP Room, 300-seat audience, visitors and correspondence balcony, additional 200-seat security, and marshal's room are being constructed in the House of Representatives.

The building of the National Assembly building is also being constructed

The government is constructing not only the building of the House of Representatives but also the building of the National Assembly with equal importance. The National Assembly building will also have three floors. A large hall with a capacity of 100 MPs is being constructed in the National Assembly building. A separate special room will be constructed for the CA chairperson. There will be a VIP room, committee room, studio room, control room, video room, record room in various technical rooms in the National Assembly building. A 200-seat balcony is being constructed in the same building. Along with that, a mega hall with a capacity of 300 people is also being constructed.  

Green grass, water fountain, public open grass around the parliament building are being constructed with the main priority. Not only that, modern technology such as eco-friendly groundwater recharge, sewage treatment plant, solar energy, rainwater harvesting will be adopted. Twelve buildings including eight main and four auxiliary buildings are under construction. The government has been spending more than Rs 100 million annually for the rent of the international conference center.