Government announces 12 priorities for transport infrastructure  

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) has laid down 12 priorities for the next five years with a high emphasis on transport infrastructure development. Expanding and completing four east-west highways to constructing a tunnel under Koteshwar Airport are among the key priorities of the MoPIT. The ministry has planned to complete the work of upgrading the east-west Mahendra Highway to four lanes in 587 km of the eastern section between Jhapa-

Butwal. Similarly, it has been mentioned that preparations will be made to widen the 439 km western section of the East-West Mahendra Highway from Butwal to Gaddachowki to four lanes during this period.  According to the spokesperson of the ministry, Shiva Nepal, completing the construction of 1,758 km of roads with blacktop, including postal highways and 31 north-south roads in the Terai. The ministry also put completion of the construction of the 1,879-kilometer Pushpalala Central Hill

Highway under high priority. Similarly, the ministry is also planning to start the construction of the western section of the Madan Bhandari Highway.

 MoPIT’s 12 priorities

1. Four east-west highways
2. a) Eastern section of East West Mahendra Highway (Jhapa-Butwal) 587 km.

Expansion to four lanes.

1. b) Preparation for widening the 439 km western section (Butwal-Gaddachowki)

of East-West Mahendra Highway into four lanes. A total of 1758 km consisting of

Postal highway and 31 north-south roads of Terai. Completion of construction

with blacktop.

1. c) Complete the construction of 1879 km of Pushpalal mid-hill Highway.
2. d) To start the construction of the western section of Madan Bhandari Highway
3. Expansion of 84 km of Araniko highway into two lanes.
4. Galchi-Rasuwagadhi road 84 km widened into two lanes.
5. Expansion of Kaligandaki, Beni-Jomsom-Korola road, 184 km into two lanes.
6. Completion of Nagadhunga tunnel and Siddhababa tunnel.
7. After completing the study of the Tokha-Chhare tunnel, construction will begin.

7. Construction of tunnel under Koteshwar Airport.
8. Expansion of Surya Vinayak-Dhulikhel Road to four lanes.
9. Completing the construction of the Kathmandu Terai Expressway.
10. After completing the study of the Khurkot-Chiabari tunnel, construction will begin.

11. East West Electric Railway project, Kathmandu Valley Metro Rail Project.
12. To study the detailed feasibility of the operation of watercraft in rivers

Balanced development is the government’s priority: Minister Shrestha

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the ministry would focus on balanced development.

Talking to the media people at the ministry on Tuesday, Shrestha said that from the selection of the plan to the allocation of resources, the trend of pouring the budget into one place or sector is against the spirit of balanced development.

“Until now, infrastructure planning has been concentrated in large urban areas, and the expenses have to be distributed proportionately,” Shrestha said.

Keshav Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the ministry, said that road safety should be given high priority along with the construction of roads.

Director General of the Department of Roads (DoR) Arjun Jung Thapa said that the crusher industries were closed during the current year when the construction works were intensified, adding that the scarcity of construction materials has resulted in a halt in construction activities.

Director General of the Railway Department Rohit Kumar Bisural informed the program that the construction of the Jayanagar-Vijalpura railway line has been completed, and India is in the process of handing it over to us.