Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain Retires from Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Kathmandu. Chief Administrative Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Saroj Guragain has gone on mandatory retirement. The Metropolitan City bid him farewell formally in a program organized on Wednesday. Guragain took charge as the Chief Administrative Officer of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on October 7, 2081. He retired today due to the age limit. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, Spokesperson Naveen Manandhar, members of the executive, departmental heads, and division chiefs were present at the farewell program. Dangol stated that Guragain's administrative leadership, coordinating with employees, elected representatives, and partner agencies, will be memorable for the Metropolitan City. Guragain has become the first officer to retire from the post of Chief Administrative Officer in the history of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Khayamraj Tiwari, coordinator of the Good Governance Committee, also expressed confidence that Guragain's experience will be useful in the future for the institutional development of the Metropolitan City. At the farewell program, Guragain said that among his 32.5 years of civil service, the period spent in Kathmandu Metropolitan City was the most memorable. He mentioned that the ups and downs in administrative service are natural and that he took all circumstances with ease. Guragain, who entered civil service as a branch officer on January 4, 2051, worked for about 21 years in local levels, about two years in the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and then in various responsibilities under the Ministry of Industry. Before coming to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, he was the chief of the 'Samriddhi Project' under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies. Guragain's tenure came into discussion especially due to the dispute with the then Kathmandu Metropolitan City Chief Balen Shah regarding the 'Kathmandu Tower' project. Public differences were seen between the Metropolitan City leadership and the Chief Administrative Officer regarding the file process and administrative decisions related to the construction of the Kathmandu Tower. The dispute also led to a wide debate on the relationship between elected representatives and administrative leadership within the Metropolitan City. Currently, Balen Shah is in the responsibility of the Prime Minister.