KABUL: (MEP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Kabul in the near future to inaugurate the India’s symbolic gift of democracy to Afghanistan — it’s new parliament building with its ten years construction work.
The project, which was initiated by the UPA government in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, is finally nearing completion and set to meet its December 31 deadline.
Indian media reports that the prime minister’s office has put pressure on all stakeholders to now finish the project and sources said that Modi is eager to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Afghanistan Parliament building had to be completed in November 2011 but has missed at least three deadlines over the last four years. In the latest review conducted by secretary (urban development) Madhusudan Prasad, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the implementing agency, informed that 96% of the works have been completed and the project team is giving final touches.
The building comprises of Parliament Block having two large assembly halls, with dome of 32 meters diameter and 14.5 meters height over main assembly hall, entrance hall, general purpose wing, a basement and a separate multi-purpose service block. The number of storeys in Parliament block varies from two to three above the artificially elevated ground level excluding basement.
The House of People, locally called as Wolesi Jirga, has a normal seating capacity of 256 and future provision of 38 seats. During joint session of both the Houses, the inner lobby of this block shall have additional space for provision of seating of members of Senate and others, presently 170 seats plus 20 future seats. Provision for press gallery and visitors’ gallery has also been kept.
The Upper House, which is called as Meshrano Jirga, will presently have a seating capacity for 134 seats. The flooring consists of superior type wooden flooring, granite and marble in combination, superior type granite flooring, Makrana white marble flooring and carpet flooring.
The project had been conceived as a Rs 300 crore (about $45 million USD) venture but is now likely to cost the exchequer Rs 710 crore.
The main purpose of the project was Delhi’s willingness to emphasis its position in the region as the main development partner of Afghanistan. When he inaugurates the Parliament building, Modi wants to emphasis India’s role as a major player in the region
