KATHMANDU: The newly constructed Dharahara tower in Sundhara, Kathmandu, is now open to the public starting today. This temporary opening coincides with Constitution Day celebrations, as approved by the Cabinet on August 23.

The Ministry of Urban Development has directed the Central Project Implementation Unit (Building and Housing) to oversee visitor access to the iconic tower. Initially, around 500 visitors will be allowed to climb the tower each day.

Kosh Nath Adhikari, the project head, mentioned that tickets will be available online through a designated website, with reservations for 100 people every half hour beginning at 11 AM. If the website is not operational, physical tickets will be available on-site.

For now, entry and parking are free. Visitors can use two electric elevators and are allowed to spend about 10 minutes in the observation area, where they can take photos and record videos.

The new Dharahara has 22 floors and features additional amenities, including a three-story underground parking facility, an administrative building, a museum, and a garden.

Despite the tower being 95 percent complete, it was inaugurated by former Prime Minister K.P. Oli during his term. However, construction is still ongoing and the project has taken nearly a decade to complete.

The terrible earthquake on April 25, 2015, completely demolished the old Dharahara, a famous landmark in Kathmandu. Promises to protect the tower's main ruins were made in the wake.

Unfortunately, the remains of the original Dharahara are still in a state of disarray, as efforts to preserve them have not been successful. This has drawn criticism over the slow pace of reconstruction.

The job of reconstructing Dharahara was left unfinished by the Reconstruction Authority. The work was taken over by the Ministry of Urban Development's Department of Urban Development and Building Construction due to delays.

The tower's opening, though construction is still ongoing, provides the public with a preview of the new building and stands as a testament to the region's resiliency in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

With the expectation that the iconic tower's full restoration would happen soon, the public inauguration of Dharahara represents a key milestone in the ongoing endeavor to repair it.