Implementing pride projects priority of Lumbini govt

By Our Correspondent,Butwal, Aug. 2: The Lumbini Province government, led by Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya, has prioritised citizen-centred service delivery. 

According to Chief Minister Acharya, the provincial government has placed top priority to the implementation of the province’s pride projects.

To transform Lumbini Provincial Hospital into a model hospital in the country, the construction of a 12-storey, 1,002-bed hospital is progressing rapidly. 

So far, 27 per cent of the physical progress has been achieved, with a plan to bring the hospital into full operation within five years. The project is being carried forward with a target of completing it by December 2028 at an estimated cost of around Rs. 6.18 billion. 

Chief Minister Acharya informed that achieving 27 per cent physical progress within one year of the foundation stone laying is encouraging.

The construction of the province’s own well-equipped administrative buildings has reached its final stage, with 80 per cent of physical progress completed so far. 

Alongside this, work on building a well-organised city based on river civilisation is also underway.  Preparations are being made to launch a land-pooling-based project on 150 bighas of land in a new settlement area. Similarly, in the Malmala area, the process of approving a multi-year project on another 150 bighas of land is in progress.

In the education sector, Chief Minister Acharya emphasised the importance of technical education and informed that a technical university has been established and brought into operation in Banke. 

He added, “With the development of information technology, students' interest in technical subjects has increased. The province has launched Lumbini Technical University, intending to make Lumbini a hub of technical education.” Last year, 33 students were enrolled at the university, while the number has risen to 210 within a year. According to Chief Minister Acharya, the provincial government is advancing road infrastructure development in a planned manner. 

He informed that the Rampur–Kapurkot road is being upgraded as a pride project of the province, with significant progress in blacktopping, road upgrading, and structure construction across Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, and Rolpa districts.  So far, 45 kilometres of road have been blacktopped, 3.8 km of gravel road has been completed, and preparations are underway to blacktop another 21.15 km of road.

A provincial road network master plan has been developed and brought into implementation, which includes 15 highways and 582 provincial roads. 

Within one year, the provincial government has completed the construction of 165 km of blacktopped road, 34 km of concrete road, 167 km of gravel road, and 123 km of earthen road. 

Additionally, 35 motorable bridges and 17 suspension bridges have been constructed. These infrastructures have directly benefited around 3 million people, and more than 16,000 individuals have gained year-round employment.  Chief Minister Acharya also informed that a project bank will be implemented and a Development Act will be drafted and brought into effect to give impetus to development.