CHITWAN: The controversy over construction of a city hall to be built by Bharatpur Metropolis has finally been settled. There was a strong argument going on whether to build the city hall on a land owned by BP Koirala Memorial Hospital or on the premises of a guest house in Bharatpur-10.

The Nepali Congress party had objected the metropolis' decision to build the city hall on the land owned by the hospital while the local residents protested the construction of the city hall on the premises of the guest house.

According to metropolis mayor Renu Dahal, the city hall will be built on 4 bigha 4 kottah (6752.96 sq metre) land owned by the Chitwan District Coordination Committee (DCC) office in Bharatpur-10.

DCC chief Krishna Kumar Dallakoti said that DCC and its property handover committee have apprised the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of granting land to the metropolis for the construction of the hall.

Mayor Dahal informed that the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DoUDBC) has already allocated Rs 500 million for the construction of the city hall.

It has been reported that construction of the city hall with the capacity to hold 2,500 persons, along with an additional small hall will cost an estimated Rs 2 billion. Mayor Dahal said, "We are building the city hall with modern facilities for the first time in Nepal," adding that the construction work would be carried out once ministerial decision gave the green light.

The mayor also informed that a team comprising general director, engineer and specialists at DoUDBC would conduct on-site inspection this week.