Government Plans 'Strategic Road' Program for Each MP's Constituency in Upcoming Budget

Kathmandu. The government is preparing to bring a 'Strategic Road' program for each MP's constituency in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084. The current government is preparing to continue the program, which was previously implemented as the MP Development Fund and later abolished, in a new form.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has proposed in the budget to bring a constituency-focused strategic road program for each MP's constituency in the upcoming fiscal year's budget, under which plans will be selected and expenditure will be made on the recommendation of MPs elected directly and proportionally from the 165 constituencies across the country.

On Monday, Secretary of the Ministry, Gopal Prasad Sigdel, provided this information during a meeting of the Committee on Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance under the National Assembly. He stated that the ministry has prioritized constituency-focused roads while formulating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Secretary Sigdel said, 'A constituency-focused strategic road program for representatives and honorable members has been proposed. Arrangements have been made to select and advance one road required in the constituency by the honorable members, which falls within the national highway network.'

The then Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel had abolished the MP Development Fund through the budget of 2077/78. Before abolition, the MP Development Fund of 6 crore was kept for discretionary spending. However, the fund abolished by then Finance Minister Paudel in 2078 was revived by Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat. He had arranged a fund of 5 crore through the budget of fiscal year 2080/081.

The Supreme Court had stayed the expenditure of the budget allocated by the government in the name of development in the constituencies of federal and provincial MPs.

The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court had issued an interim order in the first week of Bhadra 2080 stating, 'Do not implement and do not cause to implement the allocated budget for the provision related to the Parliamentary Constituency Infrastructure Development Program' in the budget for the fiscal year 2080/081.

After the Supreme Court's order halted it, the then Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel managed the budget by including projects under the Ministry of Urban Development, although he did not revive the MP Development Fund in the current fiscal year's budget.

In the budget for the current fiscal year 2082/83, the government had allocated a budget of 34.65 billion rupees (MP Development Fund) for expenditure on the recommendation of MPs.

Ministry Secretary Sigdel stated that the ministry has also prioritized the expansion of industrial access roads to encourage the private sector in the upcoming budget. He informed that strategic roads of strategic importance, such as border roads, have also been prioritized.

Similarly, the ministry has informed that it has also prioritized the pre-feasibility study for the upgrading of highways within the Karnali Province, construction of Himalayan highways, and expansion of north-south highways to 4 lanes in the upcoming budget.

According to the ministry, it has also prioritized the operation of blue buses for the safe travel of women in public transport and has proposed its inclusion in the budget.

Similarly, Secretary Sigdel informed that priority has been given to budget management for road safety on national highways, expansion of highway width, necessary budget for road maintenance, and timely completion of national pride projects.

Similarly, the ministry has informed that it has also prioritized the pre-feasibility study for the upgrading of highways within the Karnali Province, construction of Himalayan highways, and expansion of north-south highways to 4 lanes in the upcoming budget. 

Ministry's Budget Ceiling 123 Billion 

According to Secretary Sigdel, a budget of 123 billion rupees has been proposed for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport for the upcoming fiscal year. Out of this budget, the largest share of 113 billion rupees has been proposed for the Department of Roads.

Similarly, the ministry has informed that a budget of 3 billion for the Department of Railways, 1.12 billion for the Department of Transport Management, and 4 billion for the Road Board have been allocated and proposed. Secretary Sigdel informed that 31 billion rupees have been proposed for the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track alone.

The ministry had demanded a budget of 134 billion rupees, stating that more budget than the received ceiling was required. However, the Ministry of Finance provided a ceiling of only 100 billion rupees, and Secretary Sigdel stated that additional budget may be required for liability payment.

Proposed Budget for National Pride Projects

The ministry has given special priority to the upgrading and expansion of national highways. In particular, the work of upgrading single-lane and intermediate-lane roads to double lanes will be expedited.

Similarly, a budget of 4.72 billion has been proposed for the Hulaki Highway, 2.66 billion for the Mid-Hill (Pushpalal) Highway, and 7.17 billion for the North-South Corridors. The construction of 390 bridges of strategic importance will also be advanced this year.

The government is going to allocate budget with special priority to national pride projects. According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, a budget of 31 billion has been proposed for the Kathmandu-Terai Expressway project and 3 billion rupees for railway, metro rail, and monorail development projects.

Proposed Budget for Transformational Projects

The government is preparing to allocate a separate budget for transformational projects. Under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, 6 projects have been put forward as transformational projects. According to the ministry, the Galchi-Trishuli-Mailung-Syabrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road project has been kept as a transformational project. For which 1.43 billion rupees have been proposed.

Similarly, a budget of 8.54 billion for the Kakadvitta-Laukahi (Itahari) road project, 6.82 billion for the Kanchanpur-Kamala road project, 8.02 billion for the Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya road project, 4.03 billion for the Narayanghat-Butwal road project, and 5.95 billion rupees for the Butwal-Gorusinghe-Chandrauta road project have been proposed in the budget, the ministry has stated.

100 Billion Budget Demanded for Urban Development, Only 33 Billion Ceiling

There is a significant shortage of budget for the Ministry of Urban Development as well. Secretary Sigdel informed that although about 100 billion rupees are required to operate urban development programs, only a ceiling of 33 billion has been received from the Ministry of Finance.

According to him, the target is to operate integrated settlement development programs in 460 rural municipalities under urban development. An estimated budget of 18.84 billion is required for this. Similarly, an estimated 19 billion rupees are needed for urban infrastructure construction in 293 municipalities. Additional budget has also been requested for road and drainage management within the Kathmandu Valley.

6 Billion for Reconstruction of Structures Damaged in Genji Movement

The government aims to complete the reconstruction of structures damaged due to the Genji movement on August 23 and 24 within two years in the upcoming budget. According to the ministry, the government has proposed a budget of 6.648 billion rupees in the upcoming budget for the reconstruction of these damaged structures.

Ministry Secretary Sigdel stated that although the ministry has many liabilities and tasks to perform, the budget ceiling is low. He said that the ministry's liability for the upcoming fiscal year alone is 35.07 billion rupees.

Therefore, he said that there is no situation for allocating budget to new programs and projects in the upcoming budget. He mentioned that 100 billion rupees have been proposed to be allocated for new programs.

The government will continue the program of replacing thatched roofs with tin roofs under the Safe Citizen Housing Program. Secretary Sigdel stated that under this, a target has been set to install tin roofs in 94,631 houses, and although there is a liability of 2.50 billion rupees for this, only 350 million rupees have been proposed as budget for the upcoming year.

Lawmakers' Grievances: Bias in Budget and Neglect of Old Projects

Lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction with the budget formulation process for the upcoming fiscal year. During the committee meeting, lawmakers emphasized the need for the government to prioritize and allocate the budget, stating that the budget ceiling is low but the needs for development are high.

Lawmakers accused the budget allocation of being biased and neglecting old and multi-year projects. Lawmaker Jagat Timilsina raised questions about the inability to make the budget coding system and budget preparation process more scientific. He said, 'What is the problem with the coding system and developing it scientifically during budget preparation? Or is it not wanted?'

Similarly, lawmaker Kamala Devi Pant said that the budget should be brought in a way that increases capital expenditure. She demanded that the plans of the National Assembly members also be included and accessible in the upcoming budget. She said, 'The government needs to increase capital expenditure in the upcoming year's budget and make the allocated budget implementable. Projects should be selected accordingly.'

The government will continue the program of replacing thatched roofs with tin roofs under the Safe Citizen Housing Program. Under this, a target has been set to install tin roofs in 94,631 houses, and although there is a liability of 2.50 billion rupees for this, only 350 million rupees have been proposed as budget for the upcoming year, said Secretary Sigdel. 

She demanded answers from the government regarding the problems of construction entrepreneurs, old payments, and the effectiveness of the Janata Awas Program. She stated that there are widespread complaints that many construction companies have not yet received payment for work done in previous years.

Similarly, lawmaker Ghanshyam Rizal demanded the revival of abolished old projects. He said that local development projects could not move forward due to the abolition of projects included in previous budgets.

Lawmaker Samjhana Devkota questioned the effectiveness of the integrated settlement development plan when settlements in villages are becoming deserted. She said, 'Considering the situation where villages are becoming empty, should or should not integrated settlement development projects be brought?'

Lawmaker Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar strongly criticized the practice of ministries cutting and reallocating budget passed by parliament. He said, 'Lawmakers demand many projects. But the situation is such that they cannot reach the settlements. Why do ministries cut the budget passed by parliament? Why do they reallocate it?'

He demanded an end to this practice. He expressed dissatisfaction that the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project has always been neglected by allocating only 1 billion rupees. He said, 'Always allocating 1 billion to Budhi Gandaki but no work is done. Compensation has been paid. Office has been established. Now work should start.'

Lawmaker Mahanta Thakur questioned the effectiveness of budget implementation. He said that although there are talks of development, adverse situations are being created in practice. He stated that a major crisis has arisen in the Madhesh region due to the uncontrolled exploitation of the Chure and Bhabar regions. He criticized that the budget allocation and its expenditure process are not transparent.

He said, 'We are talking about the destruction of Chure, but the extraction of stones, soil, and sand from there has not stopped. The situation in the Bhabar region is the same. Budget goes, but its results are not seen. Half the budget disappears somewhere. Just as we don't see the Earth rotating, the budget is also disappearing into nothing.'