Former Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma Discusses Nepal's Infrastructure Development Challenges and Solutions
Summary
Nepal merges three ministries into the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to streamline project execution, addressing longstanding challenges in road safety, public transport, and infrastructure delays. Former Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma discusses the causes of project delays, the importance of tunnels, and the role of the proposed 'Sunset Law'.
Key Points
- Nepal has merged the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Ministry of Urban Development, and Ministry of Water Supply into the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to improve coordination and eliminate duplication.
- Keshav Kumar Sharma highlights project delays in Nepal due to poor inter-agency coordination, political instability, limited budget, and local-level obstructions.
- The proposed 'Sunset Law' aims to expedite project completion by temporarily overriding other laws to streamline approvals and decision-making.
- Tunnels are crucial for Nepal's hilly terrain to reduce travel distance and improve safety, but construction costs are high and must be economically justified.
