Almost 10 years after the decision was approved, urban development and engineering services (DUDES) is still waiting for money to start the construction of the national secretariat complex behind the Tashichodzong.

Despite the delay, officials from the ministry of works and human settlement (MoWHS) said that the project to construct the complex over 18 acres of land is still on.

“It’s not off but, because of the fund, it’s also not taking off,” DUDES director, Rinchen Dorji said.

The director said that, as per the verbal instruction of the gross national happiness commission (GNHC), construction of the four ministries (education, finance, agriculture and foreign affairs) that were identified to be built during the 10th Plan has been halted. “So this is where it stands today,” he said.

In 2006, the estimated cost was Nu 157M for education ministry, Nu 195M for agriculture ministry, Nu 176M for the finance ministry and Nu 117M for the foreign affairs ministry.

This amount, said DUDES officials, excludes the cost of interiors and ancillary works, such as sewerage treatment, water supply, compound walls and parking lots.

DUDES’s chief engineer, Phub Rinzin, added that initially the location of some ministries’ fell under the green zone area. “So they were relocated below the Zilukha school area,” he said.

To maintain the sanctity of the dzong, the proposal to built some part of the complex below the Zilukha school, and some on the area where the paddy fields are today was not approved.

In 2007, site development for the four ministries started with the area bulldozed and leveled. “We had even renovated one of the RBG houses for our office,” said Rinchen Dorji.

The decision to “consolidate” all ten ministries is an old one, said the cabinet secretary, Dasho Tashi Phuntsho.

He said that the cabinet had approved the construction of the complex, because the existing single storied houses in front of the Trashichhodzong are semi permanent and had to be regularly maintained. “Also the offices of some ministries are scattered and having all the ministries together was very convenient,” the cabinet secretary said.

Rinchen Dorji added that every year the area sees some new structures added. “And having all ministries together means certain services like parking, water and security could be shared,” he said. Once the complex is built and the offices moved, the area where the offices today stand would be turned into a park called the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck memorial plaza. The complex would include underground parking; high-tech security facilities; a banquet hall and staff dining; an auditorium and media centre.

The director said that while the secretariat building is envisaged to be a massive infrastructure, none of the new structures would be more than three storied tall and obstruct the view of the iconic fortress.  Source: Kuenselonline