The government has allocated Rs 19 billion for road construction in the current fiscal. [break]
Tulsi Prasad Sitaula, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW), said the ministry is allocating budget for construction of roads and bridges for the fiscal year 2010/11 within the budget ceiling of Rs 23 billion set by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Commission (NPC) -- the apex policy making body of the government.
“We are increasing the budget for construction of ongoing projects such as Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track, Mid-Hill Highway, North-South Highway and construction of bridges along the strategic roads,” Sitaula told myrepublica.com on Monday. He also said the government would allocate around Rs 1.5 billion for maintenance of roads in the coming fiscal year.
The government is increasing budget for Mid-Hill Highway to Rs 900 million from Rs 710 million allocated in the current fiscal year. The government has allocated Rs 320 million for North-South Highway, Rs 250 million for Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track and Rs 1.35 billion for the construction of bridges.
Ministry of Physical Planning and Works -- the principal agency for the implementation of mega development projects -- has demanded Rs 34.94 billion from the government for the coming fiscal year.
Chinese firm interested in underground railway
A source at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works told myrepublica.com on Monday that some foreign firms have approached the ministry for constructing underground railway and mono railway (flyover railway) in the capital.
“We have yet to respond to the proposal of a Chinese firm. However, we have felt the necessity of constructing underground railway line to manage the ever increasing traffic in the capital,” said Sitaula.
However, he refused to give detailed information of the Chinese firm. He said traffic problems in the capital would be reduced significantly if underground railway lines - Maharajgunj to Kupandol and Airport to Swayambhu - were constructed.
He also said construction of flyovers and underground railways are the only options to reduce the traffic congestion problem in the capital as reducing the number of vehicles would be almost impossible.
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