Government Prepares to Present Budget in Current Parliamentary Hall Due to Delay in New Building Completion

File image summary and editorial review. Due to the incomplete construction of the new parliamentary hall, the government is preparing to present the upcoming fiscal year’s budget speech in the current multipurpose hall. According to Ekram Giri, spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat, ongoing work at the new hall means the joint session scheduled for 15 Jestha must be held in the existing multipurpose hall.

Construction of the new parliament building began in 2076 BS but has not been completed despite six deadline extensions. Kathmandu, 13 Jestha – The Federal Parliament Secretariat is preparing to present the budget from the current parliamentary hall where the House of Representatives currently meets. Since finishing work and other tasks at the new hall remain incomplete, plans are underway to present the budget in the existing multipurpose hall.

It is customary to conduct rehearsals before presenting the budget, and the rehearsal is scheduled to take place on Thursday in the multipurpose hall. Ekram Giri, Joint Secretary and spokesperson of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, confirmed that construction at the new parliament hall is ongoing but preparations for the budget speech are proceeding in the existing multipurpose hall.

He stated, “There appears to be no readiness to hold the joint session and present the government’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year from the new parliament hall on 15 Jestha. Due to this uncertainty, the joint session on 15 Jestha will inevitably take place in the current multipurpose hall.”

The Special Building Project is responsible for the construction of the parliament building, and the contract was awarded to Tundi-Sec JV. According to the initial agreement, construction was to be completed by 16 Aswin 2079 BS. The contract was signed on 16 Aswin 2076 BS with the intent to use the building after the 2079 elections.

Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone for the new parliament building on 1 Aswin 2076 BS. Within 16 days, the contract worth NPR 692 crore was signed with the contractor. Due to unfinished work, the deadline was first extended to 30 Chaitra 2079 BS but the building was still not completed. The deadline has been extended six times overall, with the most recent extension lasting 90 days from Falgun and ending this Jestha.