Developing enough physical infrastructure is an important prerequisite for any nation to achieve sustainable economic and social development goals. There is no denying the fact that better infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports and airports, energy and telecommunication facilities are vital for rapid economic growth as well as inclusive growth. It is the inclusive growth that may alone help lead to poverty alleviation and reduction in income inequality in the country. Adequate infrastructure like roads and airports can be instrumental in increasing market access and integrating the country's economy with other economies of the world. As Nepal is going to graduate to the status of a developing nation by 2026, the country now needs to lay emphasis on building adequate infrastructure.

The country also needs to have macroeconomic stability and a long-term vision and strategy. It is equally essential for the nation to work towards improving the efficiency of existing systems, mobilising both foreign and domestic resources and creating a more congenial environment for the private sector to actively take part in the entire national development process. Although Nepal has accorded high priority on developing physical as well as other infrastructures to realise the overarching goal of economic prosperity, the country still has a long way to go to attain the goal. The Kathmandu-Terai Expressway, Mid-Hill Highway, Lumbini International Airport and Pokhara International Airport are some of the ongoing mega infrastructure development projects.

But it is worrying that Nepal has failed to move the process of infrastructure development ahead as expected. The existing COVID-19 pandemic and political bickering have posed an obstacle to smooth development of such infrastructure. Low capital spending has become another challenge of accelerating the pace of infrastructure development. Against this backdrop, the government has launched the ‘Provincial and Local Road Construction and Upgradation Programme’ to give a boost to the task of building better road networks across the country. An estimated Rs. 200 billion is required for implementing this programme.

Under this programme, the federal and provincial governments shall build 4,000-km roads to link 283 local levels with the provincial headquarters. Out of 753 local levels, 283 have not remained connected with the provincial headquarters. The government aims to move this programme forward from the current fiscal year. The federal government is going to bear the cost of Rs. 5 billion for the current fiscal year while the remaining budget is to be managed by the provincial governments to move the programme ahead. According to a news report published in this daily on Monday, any provincial government needs to manage 10 per cent of the total project while the remaining cost of up to 15-25 per cent should be managed by local levels to execute this programme.

In case the local levels are unable to manage the resources, the federal government may assist such projects through special programmes. Sudurpaschim Province will have the longest stretch of road network of 1,100-km built while the Gandaki Province will have 279-km road blacktopped. Inaugurating the programme, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Sunday that the government had made an incredible progress in the development sector during the last three years. This progress should not face any snag in the coming days.