Decades on, ‘Karnali model cities’ fail to take shape  

By Rajani Yogi,Surkhet, Aug. 27: Work has begun to develop various places in Karnali as model emerging cities. 

Infrastructure construction for new cities, which started 13 years ago, is ongoing in Rakam of Dailekh, was initiated as part of a plan introduced in the fiscal year 2010/11 by the government to prevent migration from the hills to the plains.

The office for the project was established in 2011/2012, and work has been ongoing since then. The project has achieved 65 per cent physical progress and 64 per cent financial progress to date. 

According to project officials, infrastructure is being constructed in different segments.Three contracts have been signed in the current fiscal year to push  forward with the work, said Engineer Prabesh Raj Lamichhane of the Rakam New City Project in Dailekh. e said that tenders for these contracts would  be called in a few days. It has been said that three separate contracts worth Rs. 90 million will be signed. 

Bheriganga going to be a modern city

Bheriganga, located in eastern Surkhet, is being developed as a new city. Currently, infrastructure development works, including quality roads, transmission lines , bus parks, drainage systems, and community and integrated buildings, are in full swing. The plan to build a modern city on the banks of the Bheri River began in 2016/17.

According to the government’s plan to build 40 modern cities and organised settlements across the country, the Bheriganga Valley was proposed as a new city. The plan to create a modern city (smart city) by integrating three municipalities in eastern Surkhet is set to be implemented this year. The New City Project Office has reported that work could not begin last year due to a lack of budget assurance.

The master plan to develop a model modern city along the banks of the Bheri River, connecting Bheriganga, Gurvakot and Lekbesi municipalities, will begin this year, said Information Officer of the project Bina Chaktu.

Infrastructure development work in full swing in Chaurjahari

The Chaurjahari Bazaar in Rukum-West is being developed as a new city. Infrastructure development work is proceeding rapidly. 

To prevent migration from the hills to the plains, the construction of Chaurjahari as a new city began in the fiscal year 2010/11.

The Chaurjahari New City Office was established, and work began in 2015/16. As the projects initiated by the New City Project progress, Chaurjahari New City is starting to transform. According to Engineer Bishnu Shahi from the Chaurjahari Project Office, work is ongoing in various segments. So far, 53 kilometres of road tracks have been opened, and 11 kilometres of roads have been blacktopped. Similarly, 565 solar lights have been installed, and 13 community buildings have been constructed, he said. It has been 13 years since the 20-year city construction plan was initiated. 

Uncertainty in  ‘Model City’ programme implementation

The Himalayan Model City Programme is facing uncertainty. The programme has been pushed to uncertainty  after it was removed from the government’s current fiscal year budget, policy, and programme.

To prevent migration from the Himalayas to the plains, the government started the construction of new cities in Hilsa and Jufal in the fiscal year 2022/23.

Work had started for the construction of a ‘New Himalayan City’ in Namkha Rural Municipality Wards  5 and 6 of Humla and Jufal of Thuli Bheri Municipality in Dolpa. 

However, the project’s work has come to a halt due to programme cuts, said Engineer Chandra Bahadur Khadka from the office. 

He said that the government removed the plan from its budget, policy and programme.