42 road projects in limbo in Lumbini

By Our Correspondent,Bhairahawa, Apr. 13: With 34 road projects in Rupandehi and eight in Nawalparasi West, a total of 42 projects have been stalled in Lumbini Province.

The projects were initiated under the Terai-Madhes Road Infrastructure Development Programme of the federal government. Butwal-based Road Division Office had started the projects in 2019 and 2020. The projects' deadlines were also extended as the work was not completed in time.

Meanwhile, all these projects were assured to be handed over to the provincial government in the current fiscal year 2022/23. However, neither the jurisdiction nor the necessary budget has been given to the province.

The federal government gave the assurances during the budget speech for 2022/23. After that, the federal government stopped looking over the projects and took no steps to transfer the jurisdiction to the province.

The road office had agreed on the construction of the 42 projects at Rs. 728,209,122. Until now, Rs. 306,833,509 has been spent. 

Officials informed that the work of all the 42 projects have come to halt as the remaining budget has not been allocated by any authority. If looked at the agreement of the projects, they should have had been completed a year ago.

"The federal government, verbally, said that the projects would be handed over to the province. However, the budget has not been allocated. This is why all the work has come to a standstill," said Maheshwor Lamsal, information officer at the Butwal-based Road Division Office.

Lamsal, who is also an engineer, said that they could not move forward until the projects were handed over to them officially.

Due to the delay, Lumbini Province government is also demanding that the federal government complete the projects.

"The provincial government cannot do anything without any formal decision or agreement. The federal government has caused unnecessary delay already. They started the project, and they can complete them themselves," said Bhimarjun Pandey, spokesperson for Lumbini Province Ministry for Physical Infrastructure Development.