Himal Press 
A visual representation of the building's design.
POKHARA: Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey laid the foundation stone for the new Gandaki Province Assembly building in Pokhara on Tuesday.
The building is targeted to be completed within three years at an estimated cost of Rs 253.7 million.
The assembly meetings are currently in the hall of the former Municipal Training Center.
According to the provincial assembly secretariat, a joint venture of Shrestha & Sons and East West Nirman Sewa has won the bid to implement the project. The joint venture bagged the project by bidding 32.41% lower than the estimated cost of Rs 328.3 million.
Omraj Dhungana, chief of the Urban Development and Building Office, Kaski, said the contractor has to complete the project by January 31, 2028.
The new provincial assembly building is being built behind the existing provincial assembly office building at Nadipur. Three three-storied buildings will spread over seven ropanis of land. The ground floor will house five parliamentary party offices and five VIP offices for the Chief Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Opposition Leader and the Assembly Secretary.
Similarly, the second floor will have the main assembly hall with seating capacity for 78 members, along with a separate gallery for 80 visitors. Additional facilities will include general and VIP rooms, the Marshal’s office, a meeting room for the Business Advisory Committee, a library, a video-conference hall, and a TV studio.
