The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has taken the initiative in removing key bottlenecks delaying national priority road projects. A meeting of stakeholders at the OPMCM on Tuesday directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to clear electricity poles obstructing road projects within 15 days.
An on-site monitoring report prepared by the government identified poor inter-agency coordination as a major reason for delays in projects such as the Kakadbhitta-Lokahi, Kanchanpur-Kamala, Kamala-Pathlaiya, Narayangadh-Butwal, Butwal-Gorusinghe, Nagdhunga-Naubise-Mugling, and Mugling-Pokhara road sections, as well as the Nagdhunga and Siddhababa tunnels.
The report flagged persistent issues, including delays in relocating power poles, managing drinking water and drainage systems, felling trees, and handling optical fiber infrastructure. Representatives from NEA, Nepal Telecom, and the Nepal Telecommunication Authority acknowledged these challenges and committed to enhanced coordination.
In response, the PM’s Office has asked all local governments to ensure smooth access to construction materials by managing contracts within three months of the fiscal year’s start and complying with existing laws when sourcing materials like stones, sand, and soil from private lands.
The Ministry of Forests and Environment has been urged to expedite the review of environmental assessment procedures, especially on jurisdiction-related confusion that often stalls project approvals.
The government is also considering the formation of a high-level coordination committee under the PM's Office to resolve site-level disruptions and inter-agency conflicts more efficiently.
Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi affirmed the ministry’s readiness to handle peace and security issues affecting the projects, while other senior officials emphasized the need for legal clarity and the introduction of a Development Act to govern local resource management.
The PM’s Economic Advisor Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada and senior secretaries from relevant ministries attended the high-level discussions at Singha Durbar, as the Prime Minister’s Secretariat continues its follow-up on projects of national concern. -- RSS
