BUTWAL, July 8: Siddharthnagar Municipality in Rupandehi is set to receive assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the construction of a 26.5 km stretch of road. 

The Ministry of Urban Development will oversee the project, which will be funded by the ADB with 75% subsidy from the Government of Nepal and a 25% investment from the municipality.

Under the Urban Resilience Livelihood Improvement (URLI) project of the ADB, Siddharthnagar Municipality will take the lead in paving roads throughout the city. Navraj Paudyal, the chief administrative officer of Siddharthnagar Municipality, shared that 28 internal roads, including Bhimkali Path, Gallamandi's Sugarmill Road, Mayadevi Colony, Abhaydurga Path, and Durga Colony, will be expanded at an estimated cost of Rs 1.35 billion.

Paudyal stated that bids will be invited for the project before the Dashain festival, and efforts are underway to ensure smooth and timely completion. It is worth noting that Siddharthnagar Municipality has previously successfully implemented ADB's 'RUDP' and 'IUDP' projects, which led to the city receiving the best project management award from the ADB.

ADB has announced its plans to commence a project spanning multiple municipalities in Rupandehi, including Siddharthanagar, Lumbini Cultural, Tilottama, Devdaha, and Sainamaina. During an online discussion among the municipal heads, project managers, the project coordination office under the Ministry of Urban Development, and ADB representatives Naresh Giri, Senior Project Officer, and Roshan Shrestha, Project Director, it was revealed that the project in Siddharthanagar Municipality will be initiated first, prioritizing efficient, smooth, and timely completion.

Expressing his satisfaction, Mayor Istiaq Ahmad Khan of Siddharthanagar Municipality welcomed the decision to implement the project in their municipality ahead of others. He assured full support and cooperation from the municipality to ensure the project's successful completion, highlighting the gradual development taking place in the region and the anticipated visible results in due course.

Sakar Shrestha, the project manager of Siddharthanagar Municipality, explained that the road section to be constructed will include drains, footpaths, and street lights on both sides, meeting the required standards.

Furthermore, the structures will be designed to be child and disabled-friendly. Shrestha mentioned that a detailed master plan is being prepared for the project, with an initial allocation of approximately Rs 700 million. Additionally, he shared that an embankment will be constructed to protect the Danda River and land, while a bicycle path, pedestrian path, river boating facility, restaurant, meditation center, and a fun park for children are also part of the development plan.

Deputy Mayor Uma Adhikari of Siddharthanagar Municipality highlighted the positive impact of road infrastructure development on the lives of citizens. Alongside the road construction, the municipal office has initiated the process of developing the Danda River as a corridor, aiming to cater to the needs of both city residents and tourists.

 
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