Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern over the status of Nepal’s National Pride Projects. In response, a briefing session has been scheduled today to update him on the latest progress and challenges of these projects.
According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the briefing will take place at 3 pm at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar.
The progress of National Pride Projects has been unsatisfactory, with most facing significant challenges. A lack of intergovernmental coordination has delayed their completion within the stipulated timeframe.
The government’s 15th periodic plan, which aimed to complete 17 National Pride Projects by the fiscal year 2023/24 (2076/77–2080/81), achieved only 18 per cent of its target. Out of the 17 projects, only three have been completed so far, marking an 82 per cent failure rate.
To address these issues, a high-tech “Action Room” has been established at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. This facility enables the Prime Minister to directly monitor project sites and hold discussions with provincial chief ministers in real-time.
Among the ongoing projects, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the West Seti and Seti River-6 (SR-6) hydropower projects has been submitted to the Investment Board by the Indian company NHPC Limited. However, significant initiatives like the Kathmandu Metro and Nijgadh International Airport have yet to commence.
The repeated extensions of project deadlines, stemming from inadequate state intervention to resolve problems, have led to deteriorating infrastructure and escalating costs.
