By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Mar. 30: With the completion of structural work of the new 22-storey Dharahara, 57 per cent of the project's physical construction work has been completed.  
Now, the remaining works include plastering, installing elevators and pinnacle. Of the two elevators, the installation of one elevator has completed and a process to install another one is ongoing, said Shyam Shrestha, project manager of CIETC-Raman JV Company. 
Similarly, almost 60 per cent of the triple basement parking is over while the first floor of the four-storey museum has been completed. 
The reconstruction project, which was initiated on October 7 of 2018, by Nepal-China joint venture companies, has accomplished some 56 per cent of its total work at the expense of Rs. 1.58 billion. 
However, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) is yet to start conservation work on the remaining vestige of the former Dharahara, which is to be housed inside a glass case after retrofitting.
Project manager Shrestha said that the design of old Dharahara’s glass frame is ready but the glass itself hasn't arrived yet. It needs to be imported from India. 
Around Rs. 1.2 million is allocated for manufacturing, supplying, fixing and finishing gold-plated bronze casing for the existing Sundhara. 
Furthermore, conservation work towards restoring the water spout back to its former glory is yet to gain momentum apart from the preparation of a blueprint. 
The design of water channel and location is almost approved. Initially, it had planned to dig a 23-ft-deep-channel from Sundhara to Tripureshwor to let the water out from the spout. 
Lately, it was planned to divert the channel at Tukucha River through Tundikhel, Bhadrakali to Hongkong market, he said. 
Though the deadline of the project has been extended to June, 2021, the project is unlikely to complete in the stipulated time. This is because structures like triple basement, four-storey museum and preservation task of the remains of old Dharahara and Sundhrara have not moved at expected pace, despite the completion of other major works. The project has so far exhausted 48 per cent of the total budget, he added. 
The project now spreads over 42.2 ropanis of land after acquiring the land belonging to the Department of Mint and southern part of Kathmandu Mall.