Nepal Purbadhar 
KATHMANDU: Giving high priority to infrastructure development, Nepali Congress (NC) unveiled the election manifesto on Sunday for upcoming elections of the House of Representatives and Province Assemblies scheduled on 20th November. Most of the plans announced in the manifesto are ambitious and difficult to implement given the weak spending capacity of the government and the low competency of the private sector to deliver the development projects. The manifesto has announced to increase in the population having access to the blacktopped road to 75 percent and to raise the number of those having a safe house to 55 percent of the total population within five years.
The NC has also announced completing the National Pride Projects within the period. The manifesto also set a target to increase electricity generation to 10,000MW, per capita energy consumption to 1200 units, and complete a 400KV East-west transmission line. Similarly, the NC has come up with ambitious programs in the tourism sector with a target to attract two million tourists annually, increase per-tourist spending to USD 100, and drive up the tourism sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 5 percent. The NC has also put transport, energy, irrigation, drinking water, communication, and tourism under the infrastructure sector.
Transport
The manifesto has also announced to upgrade East-west Highway and the Mugling-Pokhara section of Prithwi Highway to a four-lane way and bringing into operation the Nijgadh-Kathmandu expressway within the five years period. As per the election pledge, most of the section of Manag-Mustang-Jumla Road and corridors- Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Tamor, Kaligandaki, Bheri, Karnali, and Mahakali will be completed during the period. The NC has also pledged to upgrade BP Highway, Attariya-Tinker, and Khodpe-Bajhang roads, complete the Kathmandu Ringroad expansion and upgrade the Dumre-Besisahar-Manang road to a two-lane way.
Energy
The manifesto has announced to increase in the installed capacity of electricity generation to 10,000 MW and per capita consumption of electricity to 1200 KWh and provides free electricity up to 50 KW per month.
The NC has announced to encourage the consumption of electricity in industrial areas and make charging stations widely available to promote electric vehicles across the country.
Irrigation
The NC has also pledged to complete Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion, Ranijamara-Kuleriya, Sikta, Bheri-Babai, and Babai irrigation projects in time.
Drinking water
The NC has also expressed commitment to completing a one-house-one-tap program within this decade providing drinking water supply agencies with subsidized electricity. Under the manifesto, integrated drinking water, and sewage management projects in each municipality.
Communication
The manifesto has announced to increase in access of most schools, health posts and community centers to the internet with the target to transform education and health services with internet facilities. The NC has given high priority to providing government services through the online system.
