NA committee urges timely completion of infrastructure projects

KATHMANDU: Members of the Committee on Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance in the National Assembly on Monday urged stronger measures to ensure effective infrastructure development and timely budget execution.

Committee Chairperson Krishna Prasad Paudel said it is essential to ensure the effective implementation of the infrastructure plan and called for a results-oriented approach in executing the scheme. Ghana Shyam Rijal pointed to past shortcomings in budget execution, capital expenditure and planning management, and urged an increase in capital spending.

Samjhana Devkota highlighted the need for attention to construction quality and road safety and advocated for a plan to integrate settlements in rural areas. Kamala Devi Panta said construction workers face difficulties completing projects on schedule because of delays in payment. Bhuban Bahadur Sunar raised concerns about the difficulty in obtaining plans requested by MPs and insisted that work on the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project should begin promptly. Sabitri Malla urged the government to allocate sufficient funds for improvement of the Karnali Highway.

Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MoID), told the committee that the programme for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27 has been advanced by prioritising integrated urban infrastructure in cities and settlement centres expected to see economic growth. He said enhancement of local roads and community accessibility, the Suspension Bridge Regional Programme, development of alternative auxiliary highways, local centre link road development, and road safety and maintenance programmes are primary priorities for the coming year.

Sigdel gave estimated funding needs for key programmes: about Rs 14.7 billion for the local-level road and community access improvement programme, Rs 4.06 billion for the Suspension Bridge Regional Programme, and Rs 21.35 billion for the alternative auxiliary highway development programme. He announced a proposed township development programme aimed at enhancing primary markets and settlement centres in 460 villages over the next five years, and said resource management will be implemented in various settlements of at least 58 villages in the near future.

"The Medium Urban Development Programme will be executed for the comprehensive development of the essential infrastructure in the 293 municipalities that have yet to receive significant investments," Sigdel said, adding that the ministry estimates approximately Rs 100 billion in additional resources will be necessary for the programme, with Rs 11.81 billion required in the initial year.

The ministry informed the committee that the Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee plans to improve the physical and natural environment of the Bagmati River and its tributaries. MoID Secretary Sigdel said a programme has been initiated through the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority to safeguard public land, improve roadways and support efforts to create a dust-free city. He noted that reconstruction programmes under the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and the Federal Secretariat Construction and Management Office are targeted for completion within the next two years.

For the budget for upcoming fiscal year 2026/27, road safety and landslide control work have been given high priority to ensure safe traffic on national highways. Secretary Sigdel said a highway widening programme has been proposed on road safety grounds and that necessary budget allocations have been proposed to ensure national pride projects are completed on time. "It has been proposed that the construction of other local roads and bridges will be carried out through the Local Infrastructure Development Department," he added.

Secretary Bishwababu Pudasaini said WASH has been prioritised and preparations are underway to implement an integrated programme in coordination with federal, provincial and local levels to ensure clean drinking water and basic sanitation for all citizens by 2087 BS. He said large and incomplete drinking water projects will be completed quickly and that upcoming fiscal year’s policies include the development of deep boring and groundwater systems to provide arsenic-free drinking water in the Tarai-Madhesh region. Pudasaini also said sewerage management will be improved, a water testing laboratory will be established for regular testing, and priorities will include groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, reservoir-based projects and conservation of water springs. He noted the government plans to brand Nepali water under the "Himalayan Origin Certified Water" concept.

Sarita Dawadi, Secretary (Water Resources) of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said the government aims to develop Nepal as an energy export hub. Citing the Energy Development Roadmap 2081, she said the target is to produce 35,000 megawatts of electricity within the next 10 years and stressed the need to expand transmission lines to meet that goal. Dawadi called for a clear roadmap for restructuring the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and urged prompt drafting of the Electricity Bill as well as approval of renewable energy and energy efficiency bills.

She also recommended a clear division of roles and powers among the Investment Board, the Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Electricity Production Company for large projects above 200 megawatts, saying current roles and autonomy are not clearly defined. Dawadi suggested arrangements for multi-year procurement of consulting services under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for projects with estimated costs below Rs 200 million.

The committee meeting underscored a common theme: the need for timely implementation, improved planning and adequate funding to ensure infrastructure and service delivery projects meet their targets.

By RSS