Afghan parliament building caught between 2 elections
NEW DELHI: The parliament building in Afghanistan, being built by India, is racing against two election deadlines.
While the government is keen to complete the work before UPA demits office, there is also an added emergency of the Indian edifice hosting Afghan democracy soon after the country’s presidential elections — slated for April 5.
Though India has developmental assistance over 2 billion US$ in Afghanistan, a country of immense strategic significance, the symbolism of a parliament building is far too important for New Delhi.
“The work is being speeded up as we race against an April deadline”, said a government official.
The foundation stone of the parliament building by laid by Baba-e-Millat (father of the nation), Zahir Shah, in the presence of Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Construction of the ` 710 crore building project began in 2009 and missed early deadlines, the last one being December 2013.
“One shouldn’t forget the difficulties in completing infrastructure projects in a war-torn, riskridden place like Afghanistan. There were constant attacks on Indian establishment, be it the embassy or the very site of the parliament building”, says an official.
The new parliament building is being constructed on an 84-acre plot on the outskirts of Kabul, which fringes on historical Afghan landmarks such as Amanullah Khan’s Palace.
The exterior of the building is made of white marble sourced from Herat for cladding and adorned with red granite from India.