Remodeled TIA arch becomes an eyesore

 Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, November 19

The 15-year old entrance gate, erected to commemorate golden jubilee of then king Birendra's coronation, is being remodeled for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. If successful, one million foreign visitors will pass through the gate in the next year.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has invested Rs 15 million to reconstruct the arch.The gate built 15 years ago to commemorate the 25th year of then King Birendra’s coronation cost some Rs 3 million.

Visitors to the airport are confused and put off by the design. "It looks unpleasant and odd," said Prakash Pokhrel, a visitor from Naya Gaon in Gulmi. “It might surprise a stranger, but one who can appreciate a work of art will be shocked," he said.

The experience of local Raj Kumar Pradhan from Sinamangal, Kathmandu was not similar to Pokhrel. "This gate is uglier than the older one," he said. "It is unnatural an unaesthetic."

The arch of the 72 feet high structure designed of modern architecture using metal cladding blending with Stupa and Pagoda styles, designer of the gate Shesh Krishna Shrestha said.

Architect Prajwal Haada said it was entirely inappropriate to mix modern and traditional techniques. "Either it should be completely traditional or modern," he said. "It looks terrified due to lost proportion."

Metal cladding technique was completely horrible and disastrous for Nepal, said architect Varun Rana. "The wood carving, or brick or plaster technique must be used to represent the traditional culture," he said. "There may be vested interest of commission behind importing the metals instead of using local materials."

The designing of the arch was approved by the Civil Maintenance Division (CMD), the supervising and approving body under CAAN after the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism okayed it.

The design seeks to represent eyes of Buddha (peace) on the main arch, and pagoda style Pashupatinath on the right and left pillars along with metal cladding pillars and wings. Yellow symbolises stupa, brick colour, the Nepali tradition, and golden colour seeks to give continuity to the old golden gate, according to the architect.

Narayan Giri, chief at CMD, admitted that the form of the arch looked odd. “We are discussing internally to modify the top of the arch but it is yet to be decided,” he said.

The contract was signed in 2009 with joint venture Biruwa-Azad-Uma and Pratima, Kathmandu to complete the work by mid July. “It was delayed as the architect provided us the design after seven months. The construction began only in May and will be completed within a month,” said Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, general manager at CAAN.

Designer Shrestha claimed he submitted the design within three months. “Their internal causes including budget row made the construction delay,” he said.

Giri said that 95 per cent work has been completed. “We will install two pagoda mini-temples and a brass pinnacle soon,” he said. “It will look beautiful after completion.”