Development Projects in Nepal

With the aim to complete a project within a certain time, using a certain amount of resources and implemented in a variety of well-organized manner for the development are generalized as development projects. Development projects are small or large depending on the goals, investments, expected results, affected area, etc. Some projects are implemented at the local level, some in state level, and some in national level. National projects are organized if the project benefits the majority of people in the country and represents the national identity. National level projects require more resources and investment as compared to the regional and local level projects. These development projects have been renamed as Development Projects for National Pride. As of 2073 BS, there are 21 development projects for national pride. Such projects are added or removed with time.

Some development projects ongoing in Nepal are:

1. President Chure Conservation Project

This project is one of the country’s prestigious conservation projects. Its main goal is to solve the multilateral problems facing the Chure region. It also works to balance the environment and quality of life by preserving the biological diversity as well as geographical, social and economic aspects of the region. It was inaugurated in the fiscal year 2067/68 BS under the Forest and Land Conservation Ministry. It was then converted in National Pride project in fiscal year 2070/71 BS. This area covers 12.78% of Nepal’s total area and is located at 200-2100m altitude, and extends from Illam in the east to Kanchanpur in the west.  This area is covered by weak rocks and layered stones. The President Terai Madhesh Chure Conservation Committee was formed to give power to the centre.

2. Pokhara Regional International Airport

With the goal to make Pokhara a tourist destination in the international level, t he airport is being built in Chhinedanda, Pokhara with 3600 ropanis area. The foundation stone was put in Baishakh 1, 2073BS.  The project has a budget of Rs.20-30 crores, and is estimated to have a concrete runway of 2500m length and 45m width. The project also will build taxi parking space, separate national and international terminals, air traffic control tower, a 50m air bridge, etc. The Chinese company is given the contract to build the airport, which is said to be able to land a 200 seater jet airplanes.

3. Budi-Gandaki Hydro-electricity Project

Budi-Gandaki is the national level project with a reservoir. It is situated 80km westwards from Kathmandu, and lies in the border between Gorkha and Dhading. The project has a potential to generate 1200MW of electricity. The estimated investment is Rs. 25,495.5 crores, and was submitted by Budi Gandaki Hydroelectricity Project Development Committee. The investors from international platforms are The World Bank, International Finance Organization, Asian Development Bank, etc. The entirety of this project is run by and maintained by the Nepal government. The completion date for the project is estimated to be 8 years. This project is sought to be a good alternative solution to Nepal’s energy crisis.

4. Mid-Hilly Highway (Pushpalal Marga)

Similar to the East-West highway, this highway looks to join the hilly areas of the country to a common road network, which will speed up the development process in those areas. The construction of this highway is done completely by the Nepal government and started from the fiscal year 2064/65BS.  This highway will extend from Chiyo Bhanjyang in eastern hilly district Panchthar to Jhulaghat in western district Baitadi, totaling 1776kms. 23 districts in the hilly areas, 215 settlements and nearly 70 lakh people are estimated to be connected via this highway. This highway also seeks to develop 10 different places into cities as per the Organized Urbanization Policy. 1,517kms of roads have already come into use as the policy to maximize the already existing roads, and the work is going to open up new tracks in other places. This project is estimated to be completed by the year 2074/75 BS.

5. Upper Tamakoshi HydroElectricity Project

The project generates electricity from the flow of the Tamakoshi river, and is situated in northern area of Dolakha district. With main location in LamaBagar, this project has the electricity generation potential of 456MW. Completely run by national investment, this project has been given the status of National Pride Development Project, and the electricity produced here will be cheaper in comparison to others. It was inaugurated by the Upper Tamakoshi HydroElectricity Limited organization in 2063BS. This project has the fiscal support from Nepal Electricity Authority, Employees Provident Fund, Nepal Telecom, Citizens Investment Fund, Rastriya Beema Sansthan, etc.

Apart from these above mentioned projects, various National Pride Projects are being run. Some of them are Koshi, KaliGandaki and Karnali Corridor, Hulaki Sadak, Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track, East-West Electrical Railway, Melamchi Drinking Water, Gautam Buddha International Airport, Nijgadh International Airport, Pashupati Area Development Fund, Lumbini Development Fund, West Seti Electricity Project, Bheri-Babai Diversion Multi-Purpose Project, etc.