Kathmandu, January 5

Shreemahal, a palace built during Rana-regime in Pulchowk, will be reconstructed soon. It was formerly known as Shree Durbar.

Grants Management and Local Infrastructure Office of the National Reconstruction Authority Central Project Implementation Unit said that the building would have to be reconstructed as the building had suffered serious damage during the 2015 earthquakes.

The office had published a report after assessing the building. The report states that retrofitting alone would not be sufficient to restore the building and it had to be reconstructed.

Project Chief Ganesh Raj Wosti said the reconstruction of Shreemahal was being carried out based on this report.

Stakeholders were undecided for long whether the whole building should to be pulled down and new one constructed in its place or to rebuild only the quake-damaged portion of the building. It also took long to prepare the building design.

“All issues have been resolved. Now, the building will be dismantled and the construction of a new one will start,” Wosti said. This building is not even 100 years old. The Ancient Monuments Conservation Act covers only the structures which are 100 years old.