Despite 11 years having passed since the government announced the “National Pride Projects,” prioritizing major development and infrastructure initiatives, the pace of construction remains extremely slow. Although these projects were declared national pride initiatives, no special legislation has been enacted to facilitate their implementation. As a result, there is little distinction between these projects and other regular development initiatives. No significant progress or proactive measures are evident in their construction. Just as delays are observed in other projects, the progress of these pride projects has been equally sluggish. Instead, the government has continued to expand the list, resulting in a long roster of national pride projects with little substantial work completed. The government initially included only 17 projects in the national pride list in FY 2011/12, adding four more in FY 2013/14. Between FY 2018/19 and FY 2020/21, another three projects were added, bringing the total to 24. However, only three projects have been completed so far: the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport. The Melamchi Drinking Water Project has been partially completed, while progress on the remaining projects remains extremely limited. Delays in national pride projects have resulted not only in minimal physical progress but also in substantial cost escalations, in some cases more than doubling initial estimates. The initial cost of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project was Rs 3.529 billion, but by completion, it had risen to Rs 8.6 billion. Similarly, the initial cost of the ongoing Sikta Irrigation Project was Rs 1.28 billion, now revised to Rs 2.502 billion. Whether it is the Babai Irrigation Project or the Rani Jamara Gulariya Project, costs have more than doubled. Conditions are similar for projects such as the Bheri-Babai Diversion and the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway. These are just a few examples; most projects face comparable issues.
Expedite national pride projects
Initially, the estimated cost of all 24 national pride projects was Rs 10.4597 billion. Due to delays and incomplete construction, the current estimated cost has surged to Rs 25.9756 billion. According to the National Planning Commission, Rs 4.2965 billion has already been invested. However, only six projects have achieved 80 percent or more of overall physical progress, five projects have reached 50–80 percent progress, and 12 projects have achieved 50 percent or less in overall financial progress. Among these, the West Seti Hydropower Project and Nijgadh Airport have seen no progress at all. The underlying problem stems from the government announcing projects without taking their implementation seriously. Even budget allocations do not reflect the prioritization of national pride projects. Fluctuating allocations confirm this. In FY 2018/19, Rs 8.325 billion was allocated to 20 projects, but in the following fiscal year, only Rs 7.677 billion was allocated to 22 projects. In FY 2021/22, the allocation further declined to Rs 7.508 billion. Expanding the number of projects while reducing their allocated budget indicates a lack of government commitment to implementation.
The National Planning Commission itself has highlighted the absence of detailed feasibility studies, comprehensive project reports, and time-bound implementation plans, reflecting the government’s lack of seriousness. Weak accountability has also contributed to disappointing overall progress. The commission emphasizes that national pride projects should be announced only after thoroughly assessing construction methods, clear demarcation, and resource feasibility. The commission further recommends completing procedures such as side clearance, land acquisition, and environmental study approvals before initiating tender processes. Additionally, it suggests adopting dedicated management approaches for project chiefs and staff, ensuring adequate technical personnel, and refraining from arbitrarily replacing project chiefs without performance evaluation. Land disputes have been the most frequent source of conflict during construction; developing a scientific land valuation system would help mitigate such issues. The government must address these aspects from the very outset of project implementation to prevent the problem of ‘pride without progress’.
