Construction of model district headquarters to begin soon

BY BOM LAL GIRI,Nawalpur, Jan. 23: The construction of the proposed model district headquarters in Kawasoti of Nawalpur district is all set to proceed immediately.

 The decision to this effect was made by a recent meeting of the committee formed to monitor and amend the implementation of the approved master plan of the district headquarters in Kawasoti.

The committee, led by Machakaji Maharjan, Director General of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, decided to expedite the construction of two integrated buildings and the District Administration Office, as the contract process for the first phase has already been initiated. For the second phase, tenders will be called for the construction of other buildings, Maharjan added. 

The first phase will use the funds allocated in the current fiscal year, which have been confirmed by the federal government. These funds will be used to construct the buildings under the federal and local governments, informed Maharjan.

Chief District Officer Arun Pokhrel, who is also a member of the committee, informed that for the second phase, buildings such as the District Court, Government Attorney’s Office, District Coordination Committee, District Election Office, Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernisation Project, District Postal Office, Housing for employees, Armed Police Force Office, Assembly Hall, Electricity and Water Distribution Centre and others will proceed after completing the procurement process.

Buildings under provincial offices, however, will not proceed immediately, as the provincial government has not allocated any budget for the current fiscal year.

 Kamal Kumar Adhikari, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management in Gandaki Province, stated that a budget would be allocated for the upcoming fiscal year in coordination with provincial ministries and the federal government.

The committee also decided to request coordination between the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure of the province and the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction to arrange the provincial budget for the next fiscal year.

Additionally, the meeting decided to make some amendments to the previously approved master plan. 

The location of certain buildings will be revised and the plan will be updated. It was also decided to identify the construction areas for ongoing projects. The assembly hall, originally designed to accommodate 300 people, will now be modified to hold 500 people.

According to Jhapat Bahadur Thapa, head of the Chitwan Intensive Cooperative and Building Construction Project, the construction work for the model district headquarters, which is part of a multi-year master plan, is expected to be completed within the next three years. He said that the main offices providing services would be completed within three years, with some buildings potentially taking additional time.

The project in Kawasoti spreads over 184 bighas of land with designated areas of 20 bighas seven kaththas for the federal offices, 14 bighas one kaththa for provincial offices, two bighas and five kaththa for local government offices. Likewise, offices of security agencies will cover seven bighas 14 kaththas, football and cricket grounds will spread over 20 bighas 12 kaththas), residential areas in four bighas and parking in five bighas 17 kaththas. Likewise, 73 bighas and 19 kaththas will be required for green spaces and 24 bighas and four kaththas will occupy by other community buildings.