KATHMANDU: After nearly four years of the devastating 2015 earthquakes, the reconstruction of Dharahara has finally begun.
GIETC-RAMAN J/V, a Nepal-China joint venture company, had recently bagged the contract for reconstructing the iconic tower at the cost of Rs 3.45 billion.
Raju Man Manandhar, joint secretary at Heritage Conservation under National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), said the contractor had started reconstruction work before Dashain.
The project will cover an area of 22 ropani for which the NRA will acquire around 15 ropani of the General Post Office and additional three ropani of Sundhara and few other plots owned by Guthi Sansthan. The new Dharahara will be approximately 294 feet tall with two elevators.
The 18-storey tower was built by the first prime minister of Nepal Bhimsen Thapa in 1825. The tower was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1934 and was later rebuilt.