KATHMANDU: The government has decided to terminate contracts of long-delayed and stalled development projects under the Ministries of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure, and Urban Development.

Minister for Energy, Physical Infrastructure, and Urban Development Kulman Ghising directed the secretaries and departmental heads of all three ministries to immediately prepare and submit a list of such defunct projects.

Reviewing the progress of ongoing works, Minister Ghising stressed that contractors failing to deliver on time and quality will no longer be spared.

“Major infrastructure projects are left incomplete, causing the nation heavy economic losses and depriving citizens of the intended benefits. We cannot allow projects to remain in limbo because of contractors’ negligence. Identify such projects, evaluate them, and submit the list immediately,” he instructed.

Ghising added that decisions will be made without delay: “Contracts of defunct projects must be terminated, and new tender processes initiated.”

Among the stalled projects are the national pride project—Sunkoshi–Marin Multipurpose Project under irrigation—and more than three dozen roads and over 100 bridges under physical infrastructure.

Minister Ghising also issued firm instructions to complete the under-construction Federal Parliament Building inside the Singha Durbar premises by mid-January.

On Thursday, he held discussions with Urban Development Secretary Gopal Sigdel, officials of the Special Building Construction Project, consultants, and contractors, urging them to complete all remaining works within the deadline.

“The Baneshwar-based Parliament Building was heavily damaged during the Gen Z protests. Currently, we do not have a functioning Parliament building.

This is a highly sensitive project. No more excuses—everyone must mobilize fully and complete it ahead of schedule,” Ghising stated.

The Parliament Building project was contracted in September 2019 with a completion target of three years.After five deadline extensions, the contract expires in the mid-January of next year. The physical progress so far is 86 percent.

Remaining works include installation of additional trusses for false ceilings in the National Assembly and House of Representatives halls, as well as in the multipurpose hall on the first floor of both buildings.

Other pending tasks involve electrical systems such as the main LT panel, sub-panels, sanitary fittings, fire-fighting systems, HVAC testing, and operation.