Institutional buildings carry a different kind of responsibility than ordinary commercial structures. An examination office isn’t just a workspace. it’s the administrative backbone of a university academic credibility, housing records, results processing and confidential examination material that must be protected for decades. When Gandaki University set out to build a dedicated Office of the Controller of Examinations in Malepatan, Pokhara-32, Kaski, the project required a contractor capable of translating institutional requirements into a structurally sound, code-compliant building.
SKR Groups, as part of the Shrestha–SKR–Vastu joint venture, is executing this work under the Gandaki University Examination Office Construction contract. This article walks through the project overview, our construction approach, engineering standards followed, and what institutional clients can expect from a well-managed university building project in Nepal.
If you’d like the underlying contract details and inspection record, you can also view the complete Gandaki University project page directly.
Project Overview
| Client | Gandaki University |
| Project Type | Institutional / Educational Building Construction |
| Location | Malepatan, Pokhara-32, Kaski, Gandaki Province |
| Building Purpose | Office of the Controller of Examinations |
| Contracting Entity | Shrestha–SKR–Vastu Joint Venture (SKR Group Pvt. Ltd., Shrestha F. & S. Construction Pvt. Ltd., Vastu Builders Pvt. Ltd.) |
| Contract ID | GU/NCB/WORKS/02/081-82 |
| Contract Value | NPR 19,242,391.00 (Including VAT & PS) |
| Procurement Mode | National Competitive Bidding (NCB) |
| Verified Progress | 33.13% physical progress as of the June 2025 site inspection |
As of the June 2025 inspection carried out by Gandaki University’s own supervisory team, the project had reached 33.13% physical progress, with the work confirmed to be satisfactory and in line with the approved contract terms, drawings, and specifications. From an engineering perspective, that inspection sign-off matters as much as the percentage itself it means the structure, materials, and workmanship have been independently checked against the contract’s technical requirements, not just self-reported by the contractor.
For readers researching how institutional construction contracts are structured in Nepal, this Gandaki University Examination Office Construction Project is a useful real-world reference it shows the full chain from NCB award to JV formation to on-site verification.
Project Scope
A university examination office is a relatively compact building, but its scope still touches nearly every discipline in general construction. On this project, the scope of works spans:
- Site preparation and clearance at the Malepatan campus location
- Excavation for foundation and footing works
- Foundation construction, sized to suit soil conditions typical of the Pokhara valley
- RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) structural works columns, beams and slabs
- Brick masonry for infill walls and partitions
- Roofing works
- Electrical installation appropriate for an administrative/records-handling building
- Plumbing and sanitary works
- Interior finishing, including plastering, flooring and fittings
- Exterior finishing and façade treatment
- Site development, including external pathways and drainage
Each of these phases feeds into the next. In our experience managing institutional builds, the sequencing matters more than any single phase in isolation a delay or shortcut in foundation work, for instance, compounds into scheduling pressure on every phase that follows.
This is one reason SKR Groups relies on structured Engineering Project Management rather than ad-hoc site coordination, particularly on JV contracts where three partner firms need to stay aligned on one schedule.
Construction Progress
Site Preparation
Before any excavation begins, the site is cleared, leveled where required, and marked out according to the approved layout drawings. On institutional sites like this one, close attention is paid to boundary alignment and setback requirements, since university campuses often have adjacent structures, access roads, or utility lines that constrain the working footprint. Proper site preparation reduces rework later a lesson every experienced site engineer learns early.
Foundation Works
Foundation design and construction follow the soil-bearing capacity established for the site, with reinforcement detailing carried out per the structural drawings. On Pokhara-area projects specifically, foundation planning has to account for the region’s mixed alluvial and gravelly soil profiles, which is why soil investigation and correct footing depth are treated as non-negotiable steps before pouring begins.
RCC Structural Construction
The RCC frame columns, beams, and slabs forms the load-bearing skeleton of the examination office. Structural detailing follows Nepal’s National Building Code (NBC) provisions for reinforced concrete, covering bar spacing, cover requirements, and curing practices. During construction, formwork alignment and reinforcement placement are checked at each stage before concrete pouring, since errors at this level are far harder and far more expensive to correct after the concrete has set.
Brickwork
Once the frame is up, brick masonry fills in the walls between structural members. Mortar mix ratios, course alignment, and bonding patterns are checked on-site to ensure the masonry performs as intended, both structurally (as infill, not load-bearing) and in terms of finish quality for later plastering.
Roofing
Roofing work is planned to protect the structure from Pokhara’s high rainfall exposure one of the wetter parts of the country which makes correct slope, drainage, and waterproofing detailing especially important at this stage.
MEP Installation
Electrical, plumbing, and sanitary works (MEP) are coordinated with the structural and finishing trades so that conduits, pipework, and fittings are embedded or routed without compromising structural elements. For an examination records office, electrical layout also needs to account for secure storage areas and administrative workstations.
Plastering & Finishing
Internal and external plastering, flooring, and fittings follow the finishing schedule agreed with the client. Finishing work is where an institutional building’s day-to-day usability comes together durable flooring, proper door and window fittings, and clean wall finishes all matter for a space that will see decades of administrative use.
External Development
External works pathways, drainage, and site landscaping are typically sequenced toward the later stages of the contract, once the main structure and finishing are substantially complete.
Beyond the June 2025 inspection figure of 33.13%, SKR Groups does not publish phase-by-phase completion percentages publicly; progress verification for a government-funded institutional contract like this one is formally documented through the client’s own site inspection process, which you can reference on the Gandaki University Examination Office Construction Project page.
Engineering Standards
RCC construction on institutional buildings in Nepal is governed primarily by the Nepal National Building Code (NBC), which sets out requirements for structural design, seismic detailing, material specifications, and construction tolerances. Given Nepal’s seismic risk profile, particular attention is paid to:
- Reinforcement detailing at beam-column joints, where seismic forces concentrate
- Concrete grade and mix design, matched to the structural design requirements rather than assumed from habit
- Cover thickness to protect reinforcement from corrosion over the building’s service life
- Curing duration, since under-cured concrete loses a significant share of its design strength
From an engineering perspective, code compliance isn’t a formality it’s the difference between a building that performs as designed under load (including seismic load) and one that doesn’t. On institutional contracts, where the client typically has its own technical team reviewing work, adherence to NBC provisions is checked at multiple points rather than left to final inspection alone.
Quality Control
Quality control on an RCC building runs through several practical checkpoints:
- Material testing cement, aggregate, and steel are checked against specification before use, not assumed compliant from supplier documentation alone
- Concrete testing slump tests on-site and cube testing at set intervals to confirm design strength is being achieved
- Reinforcement inspection bar diameter, spacing, and lap lengths are checked before formwork is closed, since reinforcement becomes inaccessible once concrete is poured
- Site supervision day-to-day monitoring by site engineers, cross-checked against the approved drawings
- Construction monitoring periodic client-side inspections, such as the one conducted by Gandaki University in June 2025
This layered approach contractor-side supervision plus client-side inspection is fairly standard on government and institutional contracts in Nepal, and it’s part of why the inspection outcome on this project (satisfactory, in line with contract terms) carries real weight rather than being a formality.
Safety During Construction
Site safety on any institutional project is treated as a continuous process rather than a one-time setup. Practically, this covers:
- PPE compliance helmets, safety footwear, and appropriate gear for workers on active work fronts
- Site safety barriers and signage, particularly relevant on a working university campus where staff, students, or visitors may be present near the site boundary
- Equipment safety checks for lifting and mixing equipment before each use
- Risk management around excavation edges, scaffolding, and formwork during the structural phase
- Daily inspections to catch hazards before they become incidents, rather than after
On a live campus, site safety also has a coordination dimension access routes, noise, and dust need to be managed with some consideration for the surrounding institutional environment, not just the construction crew.
Challenges & Solutions
Every institutional construction project runs into some combination of practical constraints. On projects of this type in the Pokhara region, the recurring ones are:
Weather Pokhara’s monsoon season brings sustained rainfall that can affect excavation, concreting, and curing schedules. The practical response is sequencing weather-sensitive activities (concrete pours, roofing) around the forecast where possible, and protecting open work with covering where it can’t be avoided.
Material logistics Sourcing quality aggregate, steel, and cement on schedule requires reliable supplier coordination, particularly for a JV managing procurement across three partner firms. Consistent supplier relationships and advance ordering reduce the risk of work stoppages.
Coordination across a joint venture With three firms SKR Group, Shrestha F. & S. Construction, and Vastu Builders executing one contract, clear division of responsibility and a shared schedule are essential. Regular site coordination meetings and a single point of technical accountability help keep the JV structure from becoming a source of delay rather than a source of combined strength.
Scheduling around institutional constraints Working on or near an active university campus sometimes means adjusting work hours or sequencing around institutional activities, which requires a degree of flexibility that a purely private commercial site wouldn’t demand.
Site management on a compact urban plot Malepatan is a developed part of Pokhara, so material storage, equipment movement, and site logistics have to be planned within a tighter footprint than a greenfield site would allow.
Why This Project Matters
A dedicated Controller of Examinations office gives Gandaki University a purpose-built space for one of its most sensitive academic functions examination administration, records handling, and results processing. Beyond the immediate use case, projects like this contribute to Nepal’s broader educational infrastructure, giving universities dedicated, code-compliant facilities rather than repurposed or shared space.
For SKR Groups and its JV partners, the project is also a demonstration of engineering-led execution on a government-procured, NCB-awarded contract a category of work with its own compliance and documentation demands beyond typical private commercial construction.
Why SKR Groups
Institutional clients choosing a construction partner are generally looking for the same underlying qualities, regardless of building type:
- Engineering-led planning decisions grounded in structural and code requirements, not just cost or speed
- Institutional construction experience familiarity with the documentation, inspection, and compliance rhythms of government-procured work
- Professional project management a single coordinated schedule, even across a multi-firm joint venture
- Transparent execution progress that can be verified through independent client inspection, as it was in June 2025
- Experienced civil engineers on-site supervision by people who understand NBC requirements in practice, not just on paper
- Quality assurance built into the process testing and inspection at each stage rather than only at handover
- Timely coordination particularly important on JV contracts, where schedule alignment across partner firms is its own management task
- Compliance with construction standards from material specification through to final finishing
If your organization is planning a similar institutional, educational, or commercial building, our Commercial Construction and Architecture Design teams can support planning from concept through execution, backed by Construction Cost Estimation and Quantity Surveying (BOQ) services to keep budgeting realistic from the outset.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Gandaki University Examination Office Construction project?
It is the construction of a dedicated Office of the Controller of Examinations for Gandaki University, located in Malepatan, Pokhara-32, Kaski, being executed by the Shrestha–SKR–Vastu joint venture under contract ID GU/NCB/WORKS/02/081-82.
- Who is constructing the Gandaki University Examination Office?
The project is being built by a joint venture comprising SKR Group Pvt. Ltd., Shrestha F. & S. Construction Pvt. Ltd., and Vastu Builders Pvt. Ltd.
- What is the current progress of the project?
As of the June 2025 site inspection conducted by Gandaki University, the project had achieved 33.13% physical progress, confirmed as satisfactory and in line with contract terms.
- What construction method is used for the building’s structure?
The building uses RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) structural construction, with columns, beams, and slabs designed and detailed per Nepal’s National Building Code.
- How is quality controlled during construction?
Through material testing, concrete testing, reinforcement inspection, ongoing site supervision, and periodic client-side inspections such as the one carried out in June 2025.
- What safety measures are followed on-site?
Standard measures include PPE compliance, site safety signage, equipment safety checks, risk management around excavation and scaffolding, and daily site inspections.
Final Thoughts
Institutional construction projects like the Gandaki University Examination Office succeed on the strength of planning, code compliance, and consistent site-level engineering discipline not on any single dramatic milestone. The June 2025 inspection result, confirming 33.13% progress in line with contract terms, reflects that kind of steady, verifiable execution rather than shortcuts. For SKR Groups and our JV partners, that’s the standard we hold ourselves to on every institutional, educational, and commercial building we take on.
If you’re planning a university, government, or commercial building project and want a construction partner with genuine engineering-led project management, explore this institutional construction project or get in touch with SKR Groups to discuss your requirements.