Ministry all set to pick road projects
KATHMANDU, DEC 16 -
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) is all set to pick road projects for multiyear contract in electoral constituencies lacking year-round transportation.
The budget for this fiscal year states at least one road will be constructed on the basis of multiyear contracts in each electoral constituency where there is no year-round transportation.
MoPTI Secretary Tulasi Prasad Sitaula said the ministry has received several recommendations from lawmakers, and would take a decision within a week. “I have not counted how many proposals have been submitted, but I expect 100-150 projects will be selected.”
The government introduced the multiyear contract system for big projects to fast-track implementation. Under the system, a project should not call tender repeatedly once the contract is awarded to a contractor. A decision on implementing the system was taken after lawmakers demanded Rs 50 million for each constituency to intensify development activities.
Physical Infrastructure Minister Bimalendra Nidhi said the multiyear contract system would help expedite project construction.
“An absence of the multiyear contract system and shortage of construction materials, among others, resulted in slow progress of projects,” Nidhi said, speaking at the Parliamentary Development Committee meeting here on Monday.
House committee seeks clarification
The Parliamentary Development Committee on Monday directed ministries and authorities concerned to furnish reasons behind untimely start and completion of development work in the next 15 days.
Ministry of Finance, National Planning Commission and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation have been asked to do so. The panel’s concern followed the government’s report that only 7 percent the capital budget was spent in the first four months.
The committee also asked the Physical Infrastructure Ministry and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development to effectively implement priority projects, while directing the Finance Ministry to manage adequate budget.
The house committee also asked the Local Development Ministry to make sure the supply of construction materials are not affected.
Last fiscal year, many development project suffered from the shortage of construction materials after crusher owners went on strike.
The committee has also decided to invite the finance minister, minister for physical infrastructure, minister for environment, minister for local development and forest minister in the next meeting scheduled for Thursday to discuss problems in the supply of construction materials, land acquisition and road construction in conservation areas.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
