After eight months of signing the contract, the foundation stone for the building was laid. In the five months since the groundbreaking, 13% of the work has been completed, according to the Provincial Infrastructure Development Authority.
Shankar Suvedi, the site in-charge of the authority, mentioned that it took seven to eight months after the contract to clear the old building and prepare the land, but now the construction work is progressing at a fast pace.
He explained that the old hospital building was still in use, so it took time to move the beds and equipment before demolishing it. Now, the work is progressing as per the schedule.
The 12-story building is expected to be completed by the end of 2085 (Nepali calendar). Construction is ongoing from 7 AM to 10 PM, even during the cold weather, and once the weather improves, work will continue 24/7. Currently, 210 workers are working daily.
The technical responsibility for the project is handled by the Uniconsult Consultancy under Kathmandu University, with 20 technical staff monitoring the work.
The building will cover an area of about 5,800 square meters. The work has progressed to the basement level, where 785 piles have been installed, and work on the “base” is underway. The building will have two basements, with parking areas for cars in both.
The building will feature a helipad on the roof, and a lift will allow emergency access directly from the helipad. In addition to the basement work, pillars are being raised for the lifts.
Once the building is completed, outpatient services, emergency services, and specialized services like gastro, neuro, and cardiology will be provided. The services currently available in three old buildings will be transferred to the new one. The old buildings will be used for diagnostic and research, maternity, and pediatric services.
A separate building for cancer treatment will also be constructed to the south of the new building. Excavation work for this new structure is already in progress.
The provincial government allocated 1.8 billion rupees for the construction in the current fiscal year. So far, 1.5 billion rupees have been paid to the construction company.
The hospital, established in 1967, was initially a six-bed facility. The old building was constructed in 2016 and is being replaced to provide advanced medical facilities. This hospital, which serves the Lumbini region, has been continuously expanding its capacity to meet the growing demand for health services.
