PM Oli for advancing national pride projects

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 25 : Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern over whether the proposed and ongoing national pride projects are progressing in a planned and intensified manner. During a discussion with ministers, secretaries, and project chiefs at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar yesterday , he reviewed the status of all 24 national pride projects. The discussion focused on their financial and physical progress, challenges encountered, and potential solutions.

The identified challenges included a lack of assured financial resources, inadequate budgets, land acquisition issues, delays in tree felling at project sites, natural disasters such as floods and landslides, procedural bottlenecks, compensation disputes, and ongoing lawsuits, among others.

PM Oli was briefed that of the 24 mega projects, the Melamchi Drinking Water Project and the Pashupati Area Development Trust had achieved 80% progress. Meanwhile, projects like the Mid-Hill Highway, Postal Highway, South-North Koshi Corridor, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Facilities, Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project, and the Lumbini Development Trust reported progress of 50% to 60%. However, dismal progress—less than 10%—was noted for the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, Paschim Seti Hydropower Project, and Nijgadh International Airport Project.

The Prime Minister questioned project chiefs on how these initiatives could gain momentum and what notable developments or breakthroughs had occurred since he assumed office in mid-July. He emphasized the need for accelerating these projects through fresh approaches incorporating innovative and strategic thinking. PM Oli also highlighted the importance of leveraging these projects to boost domestic production and foster self-reliance in key sectors.

Present at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal, and other ministers overseeing relevant portfolios, including Energy, Culture, Tourism, Defense, Forest and Environment, and Drinking Water.

Additionally, attendees included PM Oli's economic advisor Dr. Yuwaraj Khatiwada, Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, ministry secretaries, and chiefs of the national pride projects.