The bus station in the Purano Bus Park has been temporarily shifted to Khulamanch for the construction work of 12-storey multi purpose Kathmandu View Tower.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Jaleshwor Swachhanda Bkoi Builders reached an agreement last year to build the tower under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. As per the agreement, the company will build the tower and operate it for 30 years.

The construction will start in earnest on Thursday, according to Manoj Bhetwal, manager of the Builders. Half of the 48 ropani land in Khulamanch has been blacktopped to set up the temporary station for the buses that operate inside the Valley and on Araniko Highway. Ticket counters and canteen have also been set up in the area.

The change of bus station has, however, affected the vehicular movement in the Ratna Park area, with many passengers struggling to locate vehicles of their route. “It looks all in a mess. It’s been over an hour that I have been looking for a bus for Machhegaun,” said Keshav Sapkota, a college student.     

The foundation stone for the tower was laid in November last year. Initially proposed as a 29-storey

project, but it was later revised to 12-storey in the first phase in the wake of last April’s devastating earthquake. KMC officials estimate the cost of the building at Rs1.7 billion.

Khulamanch will be used as a temporary bus station for six months, said Rudra Singh Tamang, chief and executive officer of the KMC, adding that the station would then be moved back to the original location once a two-storey underground basement of the tower gets ready. The builder has to complete the tower in three years.