Kathmandu, Aug. 11 -- When 2015's deadly earthquakes wrecked the administrative building of the Department of Roads, the authorities were in a dilemma. The building was declared unsafe to work in, which meant they had to move. But the department was uncertain whether it should retrofit the building or look for another permanent location. The reason behind the confusion: No one knew whether the Babarmahal building belonged to the government or to Babar Shumsher Rana's children.

While a decision was being contemplated, the department operated out of various rented buildings around Kathmandu. In June 2017, the department came to the decision that the building probably didn't belong to the government, and hence decided to move the office els...