After over six years since getting reduced to rubbles in the devastating 2015 earthquake, Kasthamandap, the famous public shelter, is now in its final stage of reconstruction.
With the completion of the roof section and the installation of a pinnacle, the three-storied historic structure of Basantapur has finally been restored to its former glory.
To commemorate the installation of the pinnacle, a special ceremony was observed on Sunday with 43 priests participating in the worship. “The pinnacle will be raised and placed at the top of the third floor within the next few days,” informed Gautam Dongol, Secretary of the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC).
Around 9228.10 cubic feet of timbers have been used to build the monumental wooden pavilion. The committee estimates that the reconstruction work will wrap up just a little shy of its initial budget of Rs. 120 million.
During the pandemic, the structure was said to go over budget with investments ranging from Rs. 130 million to Rs. 150 million. However, the project has so far absorbed Rs. 115 million of the total budget.
For the current fiscal year, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had provided Rs. 10 million for the reconstruction of the wooden shelter. Back in 2018, KMC had allocated a budget of Rs. 5 million during the initial phase of the reconstruction project, which began in May 2018.
So far, KMC has provided Rs.115 million to the committee. All the major works of the three-storied shelter have been completed with only minor wooden works remaining.
Source : TRN,
