KATHMANDU, Oct 15: With the International Convention Centre (ICC) in New Baneshwar rendered unusable following the damage during the Gen-Z protests, the next session of the House of Representatives will now convene in the newly constructed Parliament building inside the Singha Durbar premises.
The Parliament Secretariat recently terminated its lease agreement with the ICC under the Ministry of Urban Development. Since 2007, parliamentary sessions have been held at the ICC on a rental basis.
Helipad to be constructed inside Singha Durbar
According to the Spokesperson for the Urban Development Ministry, Narayan Mainali, the Secretariat’s decision means the next House session will definitely be held in the new building. “We have no alternative now. The contractor must complete all works by January 1,” he said.
Chief of the Special Building Project, Sunil Thakur, said about 87 percent of construction work has been completed so far. The ministry has already extended the project deadline for the fifth time, until mid-January.
The delay in construction—initiated six years ago—has been attributed to frequent design changes, lack of timely DPR studies, and weak enforcement by the government.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building on September 18, 2019. In March 2024, the Ministry approved a variation order adding Rs 560 million to the project cost.
