Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal Addresses Construction Sector Issues

Kathmandu. Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal has stated that the government is ready to solve the problems seen in the construction sector. He gave this answer on Friday after construction entrepreneurs informed about the problems and challenges in the construction sector during the meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives.

In the meeting, entrepreneurs complained to the minister about not receiving payment even after completing work, excessive price hikes, and problems with deadline extensions. After listening to the entrepreneurs' concerns, Minister Lamsal urged them not to delay construction work and not to compromise on quality. He said, 'The work must be done on time according to the standards set in the procurement agreement. Entrepreneurs must move forward by creating their own action plans.'

Minister Lamsal said that the government is aware of the country's economic situation and the impact of price hikes. Admitting that there has been the biggest price hike in Nepal's history, he mentioned that the increase in diesel prices has greatly affected the construction sector. 'The ministry is currently in a deficit of about 37 billion, but we are serious about the problems of the entrepreneurs,' he said.

He stated that work is being done according to the central bank's index to address the price hike, and relief will be provided to entrepreneurs by arranging legal processes. He is committed to solving the problems of price adjustment and deadline extension, even if it means amending the law for some projects. He said, 'Discriminatory decisions cannot be made to give to some and not to others, so it has taken some time to cover all types of projects. Entrepreneurs can work with peace of mind.'

Minister Lamsal emphasized the need to move forward in coordination, stating that the state and construction entrepreneurs are partners of each other. However, he warned that the state would be ruthless towards entrepreneurs who are negligent in their work and do not complete it on time. He instructed the entrepreneurs not to halt important projects, as delays in public construction greatly hinder development.