Government Prioritizes Nationwide Two-Lane Roads, Rs 27 Billion Set Aside for Road Safety

Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal has announced that upgrading one-lane roads across Nepal into two-lane highways is among the government's top infrastructure priorities. Responding to lawmakers during Tuesday's National Assembly meeting on the ministry's budget allocations, the minister said the tender process for the nationwide road expansion initiative will begin within the current fiscal year. Addressing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Karnali Highway and rising road accidents, Lamsal said the government has allocated Rs 27 billion for landslide mitigation and road safety infrastructure, including road furniture. He also announced that all future highways will be required to incorporate underpasses and overpasses to enhance road safety. The minister further stated that work has resumed on 300 of the 580 stalled infrastructure projects, while the government has begun the process of blacklisting contractors responsible for prolonged delays. He expressed confidence that the proposed amendment to the Public Procurement Act would help eliminate project delays caused by excessively low bidding. Lamsal also said the government has allocated funding to replace all government-operated tuins (rope crossings) with suspension bridges and will construct bridges where private tuins currently operate. In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for upgrading the Kaligandaki Corridor–Korala Border Road is expected to be completed within the current fiscal year, allowing the tender process to move forward. Highlighting the impact of climate change on road infrastructure, the minister said adequate resources have been earmarked for repairs and resilience measures, adding that all ministry services have now been digitized, enabling file approvals to be completed within a maximum of three days.