Towards the journey of prosperity

By Tirha Bhattarai
KATHMANDU, MARCH 18: The government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has recently completed first year of its five-year term.

In his address to the nation on last February 14, Prime Minister said the government took the period as a year to develop foundation for structural management of the state and prosperity of the country.

During the period the government has brought into implementation the fiscal federalism. To do so, it has prepared a comprehensive framework for revenue allocation to state and local governments.

The government has completed the task of employee adjustment this year, fixing total 137,371 postings of employees in all federal, state and local tiers of the governments.

Towards formulation and enforcement of fundamental rights, 25 new laws were endorsed from the parliament; five ordinances were introduced and 23 bills are under consideration. Preparation is underway to present other 24 bills.

In order to enable investment-friendly environment, the government has put forward the process of formulation of or amendment to 13 Acts, rules, directives.

Similarly, the participation of Prime Minister-led high-level delegation to World Economic Forum in Davos also was a great achievement in sharing Nepal’s status with global leaders and enabling environment for foreign investment.

In an effort to expedite the development of tourism sector, the government was successful in operating the Tribhuvan International Airport for 22 hours a day. The constructions of Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport have gained momentum. The task of land pooling for the construction of Nijgadh International Airport has also begun.

The PM-initiated campaign for removal of tuin has also gathered pace and construction of bridge in place of tuin has taken ahead.

In regard to energy sector, the construction of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower has come to the final stage while Arun Third has also begun its construction.

During the period, the government has built 497-km new road and blacktopped 221 kilometers. Total 87 new RCC bridges were constructed while 417 suspension bridges were built in the period of a year.

The construction of Kathmandu-Nijgadh expressway is also getting pace. Works are underway along the Dhalkebar-Simara section under the Mechi-Mahakali railway. Nepal has taken ahead the procurement to operate its own train on Janakpur-Kurtha railway.

Among other works executed during the period was inauguration of Mechi Bridge. The Mechi bridge which connects Bhadrapur to Galgaliya on the Indian side had remained in limbo for long. The foundation stone of the bridge was first laid in 2024 BS, for the second time in 2041 BS by then Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and the latest third time in 2066 BS by then Deputy PrimeMinister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar.
The dream of Jhapa people to have a bridge over the Mechi river at Bhadrapur has finally materialized after 66 years since it was started.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the bridge on January 31. The completion of the Mechi bridge can be taken as an example of development works taking a pace with the formation of a stable government.