After various unsuccessful attempts to move these offices from the Hanumandhoka area over the past 20 years, the committee issued the directive to the home ministry even as the government offices have refused to provide their land for the two police offices.The home ministry is in a fix as officials of National Trading Limited and Food Corporation have refused to provide their land for the police offices, saying the land they own is either occupied or leased.
The lands owned by National Trading Limited in Teku, Food Corporation in Thapathali, and Nepal Drugs Limited and trolley bus service in New Baneshwar, among others, have been deemed most suitable for moving the police offices at Hanumandhoka for effective policing.
"The police offices' building at Hanumandhoka is dilapidated and does not have big enough parking lot," said Deputy Prime and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam while addressing the parliamentary meeting. "Despite our concerns over the dilapidated condition of the building, we have not been able to find an alternative place where the police offices could be moved," he said.
Home Secretary Surya Silwal said the offices cannot be moved outside the ring road as it would severely cripple policing activity.
IGP Upendra Kanta Aryal said the police building at Hanuman Dhoka houses more than 500 people, including police personnel and inmates. To make matters worse, hundreds of service seekers visit the offices every day. He also said that the offices must be moved to a safer location to prevent an imminent disaster.
At the parliamentary committee's meeting, lawmakers suggested to the government to move the police offices to the center of the capital and government-owned go-downs to the outskirts.
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