23 April 2019, Kathmandu
A new building of the Nepal Army (NA) Headquarters has been inaugurated. President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated it amidst a special ceremony today at the NA Headquarters. The building constructed by applying a modern technology is believed to be the first biggest project, among the projects approved by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), completed in a short period of time meeting the required standard. The President, constitutionally, is the supreme commander-in-chief of the Nepal Army.
The construction works began on June 6, 2016 and 400 human resources worked in the project on a daily basis to complete it in two years and ten months. The government had allocated Rs 3.44 billion through the NRA, the government body formed to carry out post-earthquake rebuilding works, to undertake the project.
Following the inaugural session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Ishwor Pokhrel said the NA new building meant for its headquarters reflected the government’s vision that how it wanted to take the post-quake rebuilding drive ahead. “The NA is being appreciated for its dedication to the fulfillment of assigned responsibilities of construction of highways of national importance and ability to complete them within the deadline and for its active and effective response to the post-disaster management efforts.”
Saying the NA Headquarters (Jangi Adda) was compelled to carry out is activities from makeshift tents after the Gorkha earthquake damaged its building, Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa said that competency and work efficiency of armies in infrastructure construction would be increased with the construction of new building.
Similarly, NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyawali said that building is the example of post-earthquake reconstruction works. As he said on the occasion, out of 700,000 private houses damaged by Gorkha earthquake, 50 per cent have already been constructed while 30 per cent under construction. Through the new building, 1,000 NA human resources can execute works simultaneously.
The seven-story structure with earthquake resistant features has 430 rooms. A total of 47 offices including the NA Directorate General, Department and other Directorates will operate from the building built integrating seven separate blocks.
The new building features a meeting hall with the capacity of accommodating 500 people. The 2015 April Earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks that significantly struck the country had damaged 1,109 physical structures of the NA including the headquarters building. The roof of new building is suitable for a helicopter landing.
Present on the occasion were Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, National Assembly chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, ministers and chiefs of constitutional bodies.
The NA remains as the major security organ of the country. The constitution (Article 267) has the provisions relating to the NA. As per the Article 267 (1), the NA is an inclusive body committed to the constitution and for the safeguarding of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Nepal.
