Tuesday, Sep 09, 2025 22:30 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Sep 08, 2025 16:58 [IST]
DARJEELING, : Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Chief Executive Anit Thapa on Monday announced that the construction of the long-delayed Nepali Academy and Cultural Research Centre building is now targeted for completion by March 2026.
The foundation stone for the project was originally laid on November 14, 2014, by then GTA Chief Executive Bimal Gurung. Although construction had started soon after, the project remains incomplete nearly a decade later. The building is coming up on the premises of the old Goenka School, located on Hill Cart Road, about 4 km from Darjeeling town.
Speaking to reporters, Thapa said, “I had announced the establishment of the Nepali Academy during the Nepali Bhasa Diwas celebrations. Today, I visited the construction site. We plan to continue the incomplete work and complete it by March 2026.” He acknowledged that while some work had been ongoing, progress had been far slower than expected.
Thapa also held a meeting with engineers and architects at the site to evaluate the current status of construction.
He emphasized that the GTA agreement includes a provision for the establishment of a Nepali Academy to promote the Nepali language, literature, and culture, which is the basis for the project.
“To ensure that the building meets the required needs, I have entrusted Amar Lama, Anos Thapa, and Vijay Kumar Rai with the responsibility of preparing a list of essentials for the facility. Simply constructing a building is not enough — establishing the academy is just as important. They will consult with the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan and other literary figures to determine what should be included,” Thapa added.
According to the original plan, the Nepali Academy was to be constructed on a 4.14-acre plot of land donated by the family of N.C. Goenka, at an estimated cost of Rs 22 crore, which had already been sanctioned. The project was initially scheduled for completion in 2016. Plans included a four-storey building, to be registered under the Societies Act and managed by a 20-member governing body — a structure that has yet to materialize.
