Minister Chaulagain Publicizes Key Achievements During 75-Day Tenure at Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport

Kathmandu. Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, has publicized the major achievements made during his 75-day tenure. A report issued by the ministry claims progress in various strategic initiatives, policy reforms, project management, and road construction sectors.

However, during this short period, Minister Chaulagain's focus appears to have been primarily on on-site monitoring of road infrastructure, leading to an analysis that more time was spent on monitoring than on actual work.

Minister Chaulagain conducted on-site monitoring of significant road infrastructures during his tenure, including the BP Highway damaged by floods, the Arniko Highway (including the Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel section), the Nagdhunga Tunnel, the Nagdhunga–Mugling road section, the Mugling–Dasdhunga section, the Mugling–Pokhara section, the Bheri Corridor, and the Karnali Corridor. Experts note that no previous Minister for Physical Infrastructure has made it a practice to personally monitor such a large number of roads across diverse geographical areas in such a short time.

Nevertheless, the positive aspect that on-site monitoring, with the minister's direct participation, helped in understanding the actual status of projects and identifying problems cannot be denied. The ministry stated that after monitoring the under-construction bridge over the Narayani River in Narayanghat and various roads including Dasdhunga on the Butwal–Narayanghat road section, instructions were given to expedite the work. However, only time will tell how effectively this monitoring will play a role in the long-term implementation of projects or what difference it will make to policy formulation and the overall performance of the ministry. His term is concluding as a new government is formed.

• What about other works?

According to the report published by the ministry, significant tasks have been completed by Chaitra 10, 2082, in the areas of various strategic initiatives, policy and legal reforms, project management, inter-ministerial coordination, road and bridge construction, railway and alternative transport, transport management and service delivery, and disaster management and reconstruction.

During Minister Chaulagain's tenure, a decision was made by the Council of Ministers on Chaitra 1, 2082, to advance the construction of a two-lane track for approximately 33 km of the under-construction Bheri Corridor (Jajarkot–Dunai–Marim) from Lasikaph to Sisaule through the Nepali Army. Additionally, field observation and facilitation were conducted to advance the Triveni–Gautambada–Hanku–Dansanghu–Urthu road section in the Jumla part of the Rara National Highway as a road of strategic importance. An initiative has also been taken to develop the Manang–Mustang–Dolpa–Jumla–Mugu–Simikot–Hilsa road section as the Himalayan Diversity Route.

A report has been received regarding the study on the necessary policy, legal, and institutional arrangements for the promotion of electric vehicles and the current situation: opportunities, challenges, and possibilities. The draft of the 'Federal Capital Urban Area Public Transport Authority Regulations' has been submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval.

• National Transport Policy 2082 Submitted to Cabinet

The National Transport Policy, 2058, has been updated, and the National Transport Policy, 2082, has been drafted and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval. During this period, 3 Environmental Impact Assessment reports were recommended to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, while 22 Initial Environmental Examination reports and 3 Brief Environmental Study reports were approved.

Furthermore, before Chaulagain became minister, 40 out of 235 sick contracts under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure had already been terminated. The process for re-tendering has been initiated to manage the procurement of the terminated contracts among the remaining one and a half hundred contracts under process. The technical and financial evaluation for service procurement for the operation of the Nagdhunga Tunnel has been completed.

Moreover, the right of way for the Aambukhairani–Mugling road section was determined to be 15 meters on both sides from the center of the road. A decision was made by the Council of Ministers meeting on Chaitra 1, 2082, to acquire private land falling within that area. Important meetings were held between the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport regarding development construction issues, resulting in an agreement to resolve complexities through cooperation and coordination. Significant consensus was reached between the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Finance regarding resolving complexities in the use of gravel and sand in road sectors and making necessary arrangements in the upcoming budget to resolve double/triple taxation issues.

A Bailey bridge was handed over to Tatopani Rural Municipality for installation over the Tila River in Jumla, and a decision was made to construct a Bailey bridge over the Tila River in Tilagufa Municipality, Kalikot. The Department of Roads and its subordinate bodies completed the construction of a total of 159 km of blacktopped roads, 32 km of earthen roads, 15 km of periodic maintenance work, and 46 bridges.

The design for constructing a signature bridge over the Narayani River has been approved and construction is underway, while the construction of signature bridges over the Bagmati and Tinau rivers has commenced. A decision has been made by the government to grant tax exemption for the upgradation of the Kalanki–Basundhara road section under the Kathmandu Ring Road with Chinese grant assistance, and the construction process has begun.

Regarding the under-construction East-West Railway, a decision was made by the Council of Ministers meeting on Chaitra 1, 2082, to acquire approximately 27.56 hectares of private land falling within 25/25 meters on either side of the center line within the 29 km stretch from Chocha–Nijgadh–Ratanpur section in Rautahat. Under the construction of the East-West Railway, the construction of an additional 200 meters of track bed for the Bardibas–Chocha section has been completed, and the alignment for the Chocha–Nijgadh–Ratanpur section of the East-West Electric Railway has been approved.

• 23 Thousand Licenses Printed

Following the completion of the understanding between the Department of Transport Management and the Security Printing Center for printing twelve lakh driving licenses, 23,106 licenses have been printed and distributed during this period. Draft standards regarding making public transport safe, accessible, and technology-friendly, and the national standard regarding ride-sharing, have been prepared.

The contract management for the upgradation and landslide control work of the Kodari Highway section in Sindhupalchok, which was obstructed and in a very poor state due to landslides, has been managed and work has commenced. Contracts have been managed for the temporary immediate operation and permanent reconstruction of the BP Highway damaged by floods.