Despite delay from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in releasing the required budget, the Parliament Secretariat has started finalising contractors to set up buildings and halls for the federal parliament that comprises the House of Representatives (HoR) and the National Assembly (or Upper House).

The Parliament Secretariat has already started minor restructuring works for the Lower House which will be accommodated in the main hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Naya Baneshwor, which housed the Constituent Assembly since 2008. The Parliament Secretary will hire contractors for major works.

The Lower House or the House of Representatives will have 275 members (165 directly elected and 110 elected under the proportional representation system. The CA had 601 members.

The Parliament Secretariat has sought Rs 34.7 million for the entire restructuring process, but the MoF is yet to release the fund.

According to Him Lal Subedi, secretary at the Parliament Secretariat, bidding was called after verbal assurance from the MoF Ministry that it would release the needed budget soon.

As per the plan, the existing main hall of the ICC will house the lower assembly while the Nuptse hall will house the National Assembly.

The main hall will now have a maximum of 334 seats to accommodate joint sessions of the Lower House and the Upper House. The Upper House will have 59 representatives—56 elected by the Electoral College and three nominated by the President on the government’s recommendation.

A study conducted by the Parliament Secretariat has estimated that Rs4.25 billion is required for the annual maintenance of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies.

A 12-member team under Joint Secretary Bharatraj Gautam came up with the details of estimated costs and other logistical requirements. Salaries and allowances of members of both the Houses and costs of running the secretariats account for a major chunk of the expenditure which is estimated at Rs1.7 billion.