KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Balendra Shah, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, has said that the trend of inaugurating infrastructures without completion of their construction is a new form of corruption.

He expressed his dissatisfaction after a letter was sent to him asking him not to allow parking in Dharahara as its construction was not completed.

“Two years and nine months and 20 days ago today, the White Tower was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister KP Oli. The then mayor of Kathmandu, Bidya Sundar Shakya, said at the same inauguration - today a historic work has been completed. If it was in Rana period, it would have been called KP Oli Tower. However, a few days ago, when the parking was opened for the general public, a letter was sent - Dharahara is still under construction. Don’t allow parking there,” Mayor Shah wrote on his Facebook.

He has also commented that it would be appropriate to write a letter to those who shamelessly asked, "How did I reach the 20th floor?" instead.

Mayor Shah has also insisted on creating a national policy that considers inaugurating infrastructures hurriedly without the completion of construction as the new form of corruption.

“It is necessary for the federal and provincial governments to pass such a policy. Let's discourage the evil trend of inaugurating the construction without completion of construction,” he wrote adding, “Let's not joke with such things that directly affect the daily life of the common people and affect the management of the city.”

Mayor Shah also mentioned that parking is not closed in Dharahara. And it is being operated free of charge at the initiative of the metropolis.

“We will continue to manage it. At present, many people have the intention of taking the contract of the parking here and making a profit on the property of the Nepal government. As long as we remain in Kathmandu metropolis, we will not allow public property to be used for private interests," Mayor Shah said.