Monday, February 15, 2021

Inauguration of Singha Durbar rebuilt 70 months after 2015 Gorkha earthquake

 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today inaugurated the three facades of Singha Durbar after the restoration of the building. The post-earthquake reconstruction of Singha Durbar that serves as the main administrative hub has been completed recently. The power seat was damaged by the devastating 2015 April earthquake. The prime minister KP Sharma Oli, on the occasion, also appraised about his three years of achievements.

The reconstruction that was carried out by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) cost Rs 870 million, according to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The office will now be shifted to the renovated building, it confirmed, adding that after the April 25 devastating Gorkha earthquake, the office has been functioning from the then Ministry of Local Development. “Singha Durbar was massively damaged by the 2030 BS huge inferno and was restored to its original structure in 2037 BS through a new technology.”

Now the reconstructed building has an emergency and fire extinguisher mechanism and also well-equipped with the air conditioning facility.

According to NRA's Central Project Implementation Unit's Project, the renovation works were carried out in two phases through a tender. “The north, south and east sections were retrofitted keeping their original structure unchanged with the use of a new technology and construction materials including cement, sand, iron rod and bonding chemical,” it informed, adding that the reconstruction of the west face, which had remained unaffected by the 2030 BS inferno is going on by using traditional technology and construction materials. “This sub-project began on October 14, 2019 and has been completed almost half.”

The Sharma-Gauri Parbati-New Technical JV company has been contracted to undertake the retrofitting with a total budget of around 468 million, except the value added tax (VAT). It is estimated to be completed by mid-July this year.


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