POKHARA: Pokhara Metropolitan City on Saturday demolished 320 shutters and other structures of the Bastola Complex that had been built on land designated for the proposed Pokhara Bus Park at Prithvi Chowk.
Using excavators, the metropolitan city cleared the complex located on the Seti River side of Prithvi Chowk as part of its ongoing effort to develop the long-delayed bus park project. The structures were vacated in advance following an agreement between the metropolitan city, the landowner, and business operators.
Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said the decision to vacate the complex was reached through continuous dialogue with the landowner, business operators, and tenants.
“An agreement was reached with the landowner, and the structures were vacated accordingly. The complex was removed with the understanding that all stakeholders would cooperate in the bus park construction campaign,” Mayor Acharya said.
He clarified that while illegally constructed commercial structures were being removed, the metropolitan city would not evict informal settlers without first arranging alternative management measures.
Earlier, the metropolitan city had also demolished shutters located at the entrance of the proposed bus park.
The land occupied by the Bastola Complex is currently registered in the name of private individuals, despite having been acquired for the bus park project in 2030 BS. Subsequently, the former Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee decided to distribute compensation and residential plots within the acquired area.
To investigate the circumstances surrounding those decisions, the metropolitan city has formed a judicial committee led by a former judge. The committee has yet to submit its report.
Mayor Acharya said investigations into land ownership documents, including properties holding so-called “red certificates,” are progressing rapidly and that the findings will be made public soon.
Pokhara-9 Ward Chairperson Dipendra Marsani said the metropolitan city is committed to clearing the entire bus park area and has already initiated alternative arrangements for informal settlers occupying parts of the land.
“The use of heavy equipment in areas occupied by squatters will begin only after genuine landless families are properly managed elsewhere,” Marsani said. “Authorities are currently verifying whether those residing in the settlement own land in other locations.”
According to the metropolitan office, document verification has been completed for 337 of the 572 households residing in the settlement, with verification of the remaining households expected to be completed soon.
Mayor Acharya said the process has taken longer than expected because some applicants failed to provide accurate information about their family history and property status, while others submitted misleading details during the verification process.
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