Plans to invest Rs 816b in road, railway infrastructure in five years
KATHMANDU, April 18: The government has endorsed a five-year strategic plan for the development roads, railway and transportation sector.
The strategic plan was devised after the Indian blockade and loss of road connectivity with China after the earthquake laid bare the country's infrastructure woes. It needs Rs 816 billion over the next five years to translate the plan into reality. The amount is equal to the budget size of the current fiscal year.
Unveiling the plan, which was approved by the cabinet a month ago, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Arjun Karki on Sunday said that the plan will eliminate any possible constraints in connectivity like the country faced during earthquake and Indian blockade.
Govt to develop roads, railways, waterways as primary means of...
The plan envisages expanding Mugling-Pokhara (100 Km) section of Prithvi Highway into a four-lane road in three years. Similarly, Kohalpur-Surkhet Road (85 km) and Butwal-Pokhara Road (157 km) will be upgraded into two-land roads in the next three years.
The government plans to blacktop 1,079 km of Mid-Hills Highway (1,797) and build 105 bridges along the road within the plan period. Likewise, Kakarbhitta-Butwal (588 km) section of East-West Highway will be upgraded into a four-lane expressway in five years.
Likewise, there is a plan to enhance north-south connectivity. The plan envisages opening track of the Koshi Corridor Road that connects Khandbari with Kimathanka within two years and blacktopping it in five years. Similarly, the Ramdi-Jomsom section (202 km) of Kaligandaki Corridor Road will be blacktopped and Jomsom-Korala section (100 km) will be graveled in three years.
The Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi (82 km) section of Thori-Galcchi-Rasuwagadhi (188km) will be built in two-lanes in two years. Similarly, the Thori-Bhandara road will be built in five years.
Likewise, two other north-south roads -- Bhittamod-Dhalkebar-Sindhuli-Dolakha-Lamabagar-Lapcha (310 km) and Birgunj-Kathmandu-Kodari - will also be built in the next five years.
Similarly, the government plans to open track of the Jamuniya-Nepalgunj-Khulali-Simikot-Hilsa (143 km) within the next five years. It will be duly blacktopped, according to officials.
The strategic plan envisages upgrading Ring Road and Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road into four-lanes in the next five years. Likewise, the government also has plans to strengthen roads in urban centers, and manage road network and mass transportation considering the need of the Kathmandu Valley.
Kari said investment of a rupee in building roads and connectivity gives economic return of Rs 5. “Therefore the government has put focus on increasing road connectivity. This strategic plan will guide us while preparing plans and policies on road development.” added Karki.
The government plans to build new 450 bridges and complete construction of 200 bridges under construction over the next five years.
Similarly, Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardibas (69 km) railway line is expected to be completed within three years. Likewise, Bardibas-Simara-Birgunj (136 km) railway project will be completed in four years, as per the strategic plan.
The strategic plan envisages starting preparatory works and completing DPR of electric railway line connecting Rasuwagadhi with Kathmandu and Pokhara with Lumbini within three years.
Karki said budget for these projects will be arranged by mobilizing internal sources and through internal borrowing and foreign assistance.
