Khaama Press
December 18, 2015

The construction work of the new Afghan parliament building is expected to be fully completed by the end of this month, it has been reported.

Started in 2009 by India’s premier government-owned construction agency Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the project is in its final stage of completion.

According to the Indian officials, the new parliament building will be ready along with its other facilities within the next two weeks.

“It will be ready for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon,” an official in India’s Urban Development Ministry was quoted as saying in a report by Times of India (TOI).

The construction work of the project was originally scheduled to complete in December 2011, however the officials have said the pace construction increased significantly following years of delays.

With an intention not to extend the project deadline further, the official in India’s Urban Development Ministry, said “Since the focus was to complete it quickly and in a time-bound manner, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu reviewed the progress twice.”

The government has invested around $220 million the new Afghan parliament building which comprises of four sections, including A,B,C and D. Section-A is the main parliament hall where the lawmakers in the Lower House of the Parliament – Wolesi Jirga will hold parliamentary sessions.

Section-B is comprised of a four storey building which will include two halls for general sessions, separate dining halls for the Lower and Upper House of the Parliament.

A library will also be included Section-B of the new parliament building which will include a computer room.

The Section-C of the new parliament building is known as the entrance hall which will have a dome constructed of stainless steel and glass which will have five halls for parliamentary commissions in the second floor.

The new parliament building is being built in 40.6 hectares of land and is five times bigger than the current parliament building. It also consists of 20 lifts, 15 stairs and toilets for men and women in 35 locations.

Marbles from Chesht-e-Sharif district have been used for the floor works of the new parliament building. A big administration building, a mosque that could house 400 prayers, a modern library, VIP guesthouse and 350 apartments for the lawmakers have also been considered in the new parliament building.