KATHMANDU, Oct 10: The government has decided to auction off vehicles that were set ablaze or vandalized during the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9, marking the beginning of a large-scale disposal process for the destroyed state property.
According to the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), all burned vehicles inside the Singha Durbar premises have now been shifted to the Parliament building compound in New Baneshwor by Thursday evening.
Keshav Sharma, an employee at the ministry, said that around 275 small vehicles, 350 motorcycles, and two large buses were lifted by cranes and piled up at the rear section of the Parliament complex.
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“Except for three private vehicles that were burned in front of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, all others have been transferred to New Baneshwor,” Sharma said. “We had also planned to move those three vehicles, but their owners refused due to insurance-related reasons. They said they would handle the matter themselves,” he added.
The relocation process began about five days before the Dashain holidays. Each day, ministry employees moved around 25 vehicles and 50 to 60 motorcycles from the Singha Durbar compound. “The task has been fully completed today (Thursday),” Sharma confirmed.
Meanwhile, a secretary-level meeting has decided to initiate the process of auctioning or scrapping vehicles and equipment that were completely damaged and rendered unusable during the fire and vandalism inside Singha Durbar.
“Vehicles, machinery, and furniture destroyed in the fire and vandalism at Singha Durbar on September 9, 2025, shall be temporarily placed at the rear section of the International Conference Centre, New Baneshwor, and the process of auctioning or disposal shall be carried out immediately as per the Financial Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act and its regulations,” the decision reads.
According to a ministry official, around 400 government vehicles and 600 motorcycles were damaged nationwide during the Gen Z movement, with estimated losses amounting to nearly Rs 4 billion.
The MoUD alone lost 52 small vehicles and about 70 motorcycles, while the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport reported nine vehicles burned and 13 others vandalized. Similarly, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers lost 48 vehicles and 70 motorcycles, and the Ministry of Home Affairs lost 25 vehicles and 30 motorcycles.
For now, most ministries continue to operate with the few vehicles that survived the blaze and vandalism.
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