Nepal to construct 29 storey building, tallest in country

KATHMANDU: Nepal today laid the foundation stone for a 29-storey building in the capital city which will be the tallest structure in the country after construction.

The Rs 7-billion Kathmandu View Tower will emerge at the Old Bus Park here and is expected to complete in three years.

Nepal, which was hit by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in April killing nearly 9,000 people, lost thousands of buildings and historical monuments including the tallest 215-feet Dharahara built 200 years ago by Nepal's first Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa.

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun laid the foundation stone for constructing the Tower, is a public-private partnership (PPP) venture being constructed by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation and Jaleshwor Swachchhanda Bkoi Builders.

Pun said at the function: "Constructing different-purpose buildings like residence, business buildings, among others, in order to manage the increasing population of Kathmandu Valley has become a big challenge."

Multi-purpose building could be an alternative to this, he added.

On the occasion, the Vice President expressed hope that the government would take initiative to settle the problem seen in course of the Constitution-writing through political and diplomatic means.

Likewise, State Minister for Local Development and Federal Affairs, Kunti Kumari Shahi, urged the bodies concerned to abide by building code and criteria.

Chairman of the construction company, Manoj Kumar Bhetwal, said the tower would be a modern building that will blend international standard and Nepal's traditional craft.

After completion, this would be the tallest structure in Nepal.