Road development scheme to facilitate western region

February 24, 2000
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Kathmandu, Feb. 24 : A primary workshop cum seminar on the road maintenance and development programme to be carried out with a total budget of Rs 4.79 billion including Rs 3.79 billion in financing from the World Bank and Rs 1 billion from His Majesty’s Government  started today.

An agreement on the programme was reached between the World Bank and His Majesty’s Government on December 22, 1999.

The project aims at extending transportation facilities in the mid and far-western regions of the country and using these as a sustainable economic source. It will be carried  out in such a fashion that it will affect environment minimally.

Under this programme, labour-intensive methodology will be followed for the maximum benefit of the local people and for their economic advancement. Local skills will   be utilised and capacity built up.

The proposed roads under this programme are the 34 km Chameliya-Darchula Road, 37 km Saphebagar-Bhartami Road, 15 km Shanphebagar-Mangalsen Road, 44 km and 21 km Kalikot-Jumla Roads.

Similarly,  the 135 km Surkhet-Kalikot Road, 62 km Dharapani-Chhedegada Road, and 59 km Gorusinge-Sandhikharka Road will be upgraded and 85 km Tansen-Syanja Road, 73 km Harthok-Tamghas Road, and 14 km Lumbini-Taulihawas Road will be re-constructed under this programme.

The programme has hinted at setting up a road development board and a road development fund.

The World Bank holds that users’ group are able to extend maximum contribution and  bring about effective implementation and also meet financial needs for  the sustainability and maintenance of  national and district road networks.

The project will emphasis on supporting the department of roads for carrying out maintenance of  the national road network with low cost and fixed time frame.

World Bank has extended cooperation for 5 different road projects since 1970.

Vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Prithvi raj ligal inaugurating the seminar, said that this project would bring the mid and far western regions into the mainstream of national development.

Member of the npc Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel noted that a total of 68 districts of the country would see motorable roads by the end of the Ninth Plan.

The headquarters of Jumla will be linked by road within the coming 3 years and  the headquarters of Kalikot  within one and half years, he added.

He urged the project chiefs to honestly adhere to the policy of the government as well as the terms and conditions of donor agencies.

During the function held under the chairmanship of secretary at the ministry of  Works and Transport Hiranya Lal Regmi, advisor at the Ministry of Industry Ananda Raj Mulmi, the country director of  the World Bank and secretary at the Ministry of population and environment govinda raj bhatta also expressed their views.