Government's High Priority 'Transformational Projects' Facing Severe Delays, OAG Reveals

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has raised serious concerns over the slow progress of 17 major "transformational projects" launched by the government to drive rapid economic growth and development. According to the OAG's latest report, these high-priority projects spanning the economic, social, infrastructure, and good governance sectors have largely seen disappointing results.

Among the 17 initiatives, the social sector projects fared the best. The Public School Strengthening Project achieved 81 percent physical progress, while the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Programme reached 88 percent. However, several other critical projects have fallen significantly behind schedule.

A major trade route to China, the Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Shyafrubesi Road Project, has achieved only 64 percent progress despite its deadline having already passed. The OAG noted that this long-delayed project, intended to boost trade with Nepal's northern neighbor, has been repeatedly stalled by local protests, land disputes in forest areas, tree clearing delays, and natural disasters.

Infrastructure delays also hit the energy sector. Two major power line projects designed to improve electricity distribution the Bheri Corridor and the Tamor Corridor have faced severe delays. The physical progress for the Bheri Corridor stands at just 12.3 percent, while the Tamor Corridor has reached 27.7 percent. Furthermore, the Forest for Prosperity Programme, which was supposed to wrap up in the last fiscal year, remains incomplete despite multiple deadline extensions.

Other initiatives lagging behind schedule include the President's Women Empowerment Programme, land administration upgrades, and projects aimed at expanding healthcare services.

In light of these widespread delays, the OAG has directed government agencies to conduct mid-term reviews of all lagging projects. It has also urged the National Planning Commission to step up its monitoring efforts, solve local issues promptly, and enforce stricter measures to ensure development projects are completed on time.