KATHMANDU, March 29: There are indications that the construction of the Nepal Police Academy, funded by Indian grants, may not be completed within the scheduled time. Over 20 months, only 18 percent of the work has been completed, indicating that the project is unlikely to meet its 36-month completion deadline.

According to the contract agreement, the building should be completed within 36 months. However, the chances of meeting this deadline within the remaining 16 months appear negligible.

About 20 months ago, the construction process officially started in Panauti following the approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the draft construction bids from India. Under the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) framework facilitated by the government of India, it was agreed that the project should be handed over to the Nepal government within 1,095 days.

“We have urged them to deliver the project on schedule,” AIG Sandeep Bhandari, head of the  Police Academy, said.

The contract for constructing the building valued at around Rs 9 billion was awarded by the police headquarters.

India had pledged financial support for the construction of the police academy back in March 1996. Discussions regarding the academy’s construction took place during the visit of the then IGP Motilal Bohra to India from January 24, 1996, to February 2, 1996. After that, an agreement to establish the academy with a grant was reached during the visit of then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to India. The construction process commenced two years ago during Deuba’s tenure as the prime minister. 

Nepal Police Spokesperson DIG Bhim Dhakal also added that only 18 percent of the work has been completed in 20 months. “The construction company is obliged to complete the work within 36 months. However, despite 20 months having passed, only 18 percent work has been completed,” DIG Dhakal said.

The construction of the building started on September 23, 2022, with the foundation stone being laid by then Home Minister Balkrishna Khand and Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava. The government had previously acquired 42.4 hectares of land at Sunthana, Panauti Municipality-6 of Kavre, for the establishment of the academy.

An agreement between the Government of Nepal and India stipulated an amount of INR 5,494.61 million for the construction. On November 26, 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the grant agreement during his visit to Kathmandu to attend the SAARC summit.

Only Ahluwalia Contracts and Roshan Construction, a joint venture company based in Nepal, was technically approved for the construction of the academy. These companies are currently engaged  in constructing the academy buildings in Panauti.

The project involves the construction of a total of 50 buildings, with the foundations of 39 buildings currently under construction. According to the police, the building construction project, which will be conducted in eight phases, is currently being conducted in the fourth phase.

In the tender for this project, the Indian company Central Public Works Department (CPWD) served as a consultant. The 'Guidelines for Purchasing through Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)-2078' approved by the Council of Ministers on May 2, 2021, stipulate that the participating company must have completed at least one similar project within the past one decade and at least 40% of the work being completed without subcontracting.

The tender mentioned that up to a maximum of 35 percent of the total project, the work could be subcontracted, with an additional percent allocated for joint venture (JV). In Nepal, it was mandated that only 25 percent of the work could be subcontracted and 25 percent could be allocated for joint ventures. Accordingly, the contract has been finalized.

 
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