CM Baniya for using cement instead of asphalt in paving roadways in Nepal

Kathmandu, Jan 21: Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Indra Bahadur Baniya, emphasized the need to promote the usage of domestically produced cement in road construction thereby reducing the import of asphalt.

CM Baniya stated that the use of domestic raw materials was indispensable to attain sustainable development and self-reliant economy.

The CM said so while inaugurating a one-day training organized by the Nepal Cement Manufacturers Association on last Tuesday in facilitation of the IPTM Nepal Pvt Ltd.

The training was related to design and construction of cement concrete pavements and aimed to promoting sustainable development of roads infrastructures.

During the inaugural, CM Baniya observed that replacing bitumen would not only promote the cement industry but also would help reduce the country's overall trade deficit.

He pledged collaboration between the provincial government and cement industries and prioritize such programmes in the upcoming budget.

In order to maximize the cement consumption, he suggested that we should consider constructing of concrete road instead of asphalt roads.

On the occasion, Association's Chairperson Raghunandan Maru highlighted the need for sustainable road infrastructures in the country, mentioning that more than 90 per cent of goods and passengers transportation in Nepal was currently taking place via road transport.

Although the initial cost of the concrete pavement is slightly higher compared to the asphalt roads, he explained that cement concrete pavements have lower maintenance costs in the long run along with higher durability and reliability.

He shared that Nepal imports bitumen worth more than Rs 11 billion every year. To replace this, he viewed, there is a need to use domestically produced cement in constructing concrete roads. (RSS)