KATHMANDU: Minister for Urban Development Kuleman Ghising has directed the construction company to complete the Federal Parliament Building under construction within the Singha Durbar premises on schedule.

After inspecting the site today, Minister Ghising instructed the contractor to prepare a daily work schedule and expedite the project.

“The contractor has committed to completing the construction by December 31 after the deadline was extended for the fifth time,” Minister Ghising said.

“Work must now move ahead seriously to finish the project within that timeframe,” he added. The Federal Parliament Building at New Baneshwor sustained damage during recent “Gen Z” protests, causing difficulties in convening National Assembly meetings.

“The old Parliament building was damaged by fire during the protests,” he said. “The National Assembly must hold its sessions, and after the next elections, the House of Representatives will also need to convene. It will take time to make the damaged building functional again, so the new Parliament building must be completed as soon as possible.”

According to contractor representatives, about 87 percent of the construction work has been completed, with finishing works currently underway inside the building.

They said some delay occurred because certain materials had to be imported, but they were committed to completing the remaining work by December 31.

The new Parliament Building is being constructed on 157 ropani of land inside the Singha Durbar complex.