Nepal sets major infrastructure programme in motion

The Nepalese Government is setting out a strategy to invest heavily in its transport connections. The country has set a budget of US$5.49 billion for the fiscal year 2011-2012, with $530 million to be spent on the infrastructure development programme.

The budget is financing work such as the improvement of unsurfaced roads. Arrangements are being made to run major infrastructure projects through a separate institutional mechanism. A fast track process will be adopted for the construction and completion mechanism of national projects. Work will start on asphalt surfacing of the Ghurmi-Khurkot and Baglung-Burtibang section of the Mid-hill highway (Puspalal Highway), which will improve connections for the east west hilly range with some $25 million budgeted. A feasibility study is due for an alternate route to the Sindhupalchok- Nuwakot- Dhadhing- Gorkha-Lamjung-Kaski link. The project is intended to reduce the traffic congestion in capital Kathmandu. Provision will also be made for a new highway and bridges on the Jhapa to Kanchanpur route and around $71 million is budgeted for the work. The construction of the north south highway a focus for further investment and priority will be given for the construction of roads along Chainpur-Taklakot, Sirdibas-Chumchet-Chhekampar, Olangchung -Gola, Jiri- Salleri route. Funds have been allocated for the Kathmandu- Tarai/Madhesh expressway, which will link the capital with Terai/Madhes during the next fiscal year. A high priority project is the opening of the Koshi corridor (Ghurmi-Chatara) and the Karnali corridor. The budget has also been set for the Dharan-Chatara, Katari- Hetauda and Narad Muni Thulung road (Leguwaghat-Bhojpur). Work will be carried out on the remaining portion of the Ghorahi-Thawang Martyr road in Dang. Asphalt surfacing will commence from Ghorahi to Ghartigaun while work will start on a ring road in Ghorahi Municipality and emphasis will be given for infrastructure in Janakpur Municipality. A special priority project will link Limi-Lapcha-Simikot, Gamgadi-Nyakche Lagma of Mugu, Dolpa-Marim and Jajarkot-Dunai, which are currently inaccessible by road. Upgrades are planned for roads from Basantpur-Terhathum, Hilepani-Diktel, Rakse- Mangalbare-Nepaltar, Chandranigahpur-Gaur,Tokha-Gurje Bhanjyang, Dachhin dhoka-Sankhu-Kaule, Maldunga-Pyuthan, Ameliya-Tulasipur- Salyan, Surkhet-Siyakot,Sanfebagar-Magalsen and Sanfebagar-Martadi, Tamghash-Simaltari-Pyuthan-Dang. These last projects will be completed within the next fiscal year. The construction of Biratnagar-Kimathanka highway (the Koshi highway) will continues, as will work on the Mustang-Dolpa, Ridi- Balkot-Bijuwar-Madichaur-Salyan-Surkhet road. Meanwhile the upgrading of the Rani-Itahari-Dharan, Birgunj-Pathalaiya, Belahiya-Butwal road will see the link widened from four to six lanes. Widening of the Lamoshangu-Jiri road and Mangalpur-Shukranagar Prachand Marg (Road) in Chitawan is also due to commence. New tunnels will be built on the Nagdhunga-Naubise and Bhimphedi- Hetauda route while construction of the Sitapaila- Dharke road will commence and work on the Shyaphrubesi- Rasuwagadhi road construction will be completed within the coming fiscal year. The budget includes projects which will extend roads in remote rural areas and these include the Seti Highway and Mahakali Highway. An additional budget has been set aside for regional roads. Traffic congestion problems will be reduced by the addition of new lanes to roads connecting the capital and other major conurbations as well as inner city roads. Of note is the plan for a new fly-over in Kathmandu. The budget will also be used for the construction of road-bridges on highways. Old bridges of strategic importance that will be improved include repairs to the Godavari bridge at Dhangadhi, the Bheri bridge at Surkhet, and the Tadi, Dharke and Mugling bridges along the Prithivi. Construction on the Chadani Dodhara Bridge in Kanchanpur will be completed during this financial year.