Kathmandu, January 2

As the government is preparing to hold National Assembly election on February 8, the parliament secretariat has completed 50 per cent work on construction of the NA meeting hall.

According to Joint Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura, seating arrangements have already been made and work was on to expand the rostrum in Nuptse hall of International Convention Centre.

“The height and width of the rostrum is being expanded, while a glass bar is being erected to separate the audience and press gallery,” he said, adding, “The hall will have a total of 80 seats for NA members, ministers and 20 seats for media.” As per the constitution, NA will have 59 members.

Secretary at the Parliament Secretariat Birendra Bahadur Karki is overseeing the construction work and other arrangements at the NA meeting hall.

Another secretary at the Parliament Secretariat Jiva Raj Budhathoki said the operation and management survey conducted a year ago had shown that the secretariat needed 19 under secretaries and 29 officers to carry out the functions of the bicameral Parliament.

“We can finalise the number of offices and committees only after the NA election,” Budhathoki added.

According to Bharat Raj Gautam, spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat, they had demanded Rs 30 million for making necessary arrangements in the NA meeting hall. He said the government had already released two-thirds of the demanded amount.

Gautam also informed that arrangements at House of Representative hall will be completed by second week of January.