KATHMANDU, Dec 12: Four years after its rushed inauguration, the iconic Dharahara remains far from completion. To finally conclude the long-delayed project, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), under the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), is preparing to extend the contractor’s deadline for the ninth time.
The contractor has already submitted a request for a further extension, and the DUDBC is considering granting it until mid-April 2026. “The contractor proposed an extension until mid-June, but we are reviewing the request only for mid-April,” said Jhapat Singh Bishwakarma, Head of the Central Level Project Implementation Unit under the DUDBC. “Tomorrow (Friday), we will call the contractor for discussions and have asked them to submit a revised schedule with a shorter timeline.”
According to Bishwakarma, the contractor is expected to present the revised schedule on Friday. The DUDBC has stressed that this extension will be the final one, reiterating the condition set during the eighth extension.
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Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the reconstructed Dharahara on April 24, 2021, despite the project being incomplete. At present, around 90 percent of the work has been finished, with the remaining tasks including the installation of lighting, generators, air conditioners, panel boards, water systems, as well as cleaning and completing finishes at the old Taksar Department site.
The eighth extension, granted until November 14, 2025, proved inadequate, prompting the need for a ninth extension. The DUDBC had previously extended the timeline on June 17. The MoUD originally awarded the contract to the GITC–Raman Construction Joint Venture on 30 September 2018 at a cost of Rs 3.08 billion (excluding VAT). Despite seven prior extensions, the project remained incomplete, increasing the total cost to over Rs 3.5 billion, with the eighth extension adding a further Rs 15 million.
Despite the remaining work, Dharahara has been open to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and generating revenue in crores. The monument opened for public visits on September 19, 2024, coinciding with Constitution Day, with an initial fee that was later adjusted to maintain access.
Historic Sundhara water flow still pending
Engineers have confirmed that water can no longer flow naturally from Sundhara. Bishwakarma noted that while artificial systems could restore the flow, local residents insist on the restoration of natural water channels. The revival of the historic Sundhara water system linked to Dharahara remains incomplete, despite repeated consultations with stakeholders and experts by the Dharahara Operational Team and the Central Level Project Implementation Unit.
A DUDBC official said, “Until 1995, water flowed naturally through Sundhara, but the construction of Kathmandu Mall disrupted the system. Locals insist on natural water flow, rejecting deep boring or bringing water from Melamchi. We are still evaluating how to restore it.”
