By Kshitiz Siwakoti, Kathmandu, June 30: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has made a plan to build a cultural centre with a view to preserving the various facets of culture in Kathmandu and enhancing the image of KMC as a brand and thus minimising impacts on cultural aspects due to intense urbanization.

Ram Thapa, Chief of the Public Works Department of the KMC, said that building a cultural centre is one of three major infrastructural projects planned to begin from this fiscal year. “The museum that is expected to house cultural events while imparting knowledge with a cultural library is expected to cost around 300 million rupees,” Thapa said. 

The five-storey building is expected to showcase and promote the culture in Kathmandu by displaying various artefacts and works of art while conducting various researches on the role they played in enriching Kathmandu's culture.

The ground floor is expected to house space for the artefacts and the works of art. In order to enhance the branding of the KMC, the ground floor is also expected to have ‘Hamro Kathmandu Bazaar’ which is supposed to be a souvenir shop that will work to enhance the KMC as a brand. Amenities such as a tourist information centre as well as various cafes are also designed.

The first and the second floor will house multi-purpose halls along with various sitting areas. The multipurpose halls are expected to showcase various cultural programmes. 

The third floor is expected to house a library that will have various books and information related to the culture in Kathmandu

The fourth floor is expected to house a research centre and a collaborative workspace to enable various concerned agencies to work on their research. The research is expected to take place on cultural artefacts and the works of art and how they influenced the culture in Kathmandu.   

The proposed area for the construction is an area of the land owned by the KMC in Dharmapath, only 500 meters away from Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building is to be built in a traditional pagoda style and is expected to occupy an area of 826.36 square meters.