Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Presenting thebudget for the coming fiscal year 2083/84, Swarnim Wagle has announced to give special priority to physical infrastructure, energy and drinking water sector. Presenting the budget statement in the joint meeting of the parliament } on Friday, he said that the government would expand the road network, construct tunnels and increase electricity generation in the coming fiscal year.

The government has set a target to blacktop 1,000 kilometers of roads and complete 275 bridges within the next fiscal year.The 1,028-km -long East- West highway will be upgraded to four lanes within the next five years and Rs 37.46 billion has been allocated for the next fiscal year. According to Minister Wagle, the construction of Kamala-Kanchanpur and Narayangadh- Butwal section will be completed this year.

A total of Rs 17.64 billion has been allocated for the Kathmandu-Tarai-Madhes Fast Highway (FAST track) under which 40 bridges and 5.4 tunnel will be completed next year.  Similarly, Rs 4.65 billion has been allocated for the construction of the Postal Highway within three years and Rs 2.16 billion for the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway.

A budget of Rs 1.46 billion has been allocated for the upgradation of Madan Bhandari Highway and Rs 1 billion for the upgradation of Surkhet-Jumla-Gamg adhi road along the Karnali Highway. The government plans to bring the Nagdhunga tunnel way into operation from mid-July and develop the Butwal- Pokhara section as a fast track. A total of Rs 28.52 billion has been allocated for the maintenance and maintenance of roads across the country.

The government has decided to carry out feasibility study and construction of various tunnels including , , , Khurkot-Chiyabari and , Thankot-Chitlang, among others.A total of Rs 6.25 billion has been allocated for the Karnali, Kaligandaki and Koshi corridors. The budget has also stated that arrangements would be made to operate a modern blue bus service with CCTV for the safe travel of women. A budget of Rs 1.83 billion has been allocated for the construction of identity cities in 12 places along the Mid-Hill Highway. In the first phase, 100 residential houses will be constructed in Mechinagar of Jhapa and sold to the generalpublic. Post-earthquake re construction works in Jajarkot and Rukum (West) will be ex pedited. A total of Rs 286.48 billion has been allocated for the development of roads and urban infrastructure. 

Arsenic-free drinking water campaign will be launched in the Tarai- Madhes and Rs 2 .5 billion has been allocated for incomplete drinking water projects. A study will be conducted for the diversion of water from Yangri and Larke rivulets under the Melamchi Water Supply Project. Sewage treatment plants will be constructed in various places in and outside the Kathmandu Valley. A total ofRs 37.17 billion has been allocated for drinking water and sanitation. 

In the next fiscal year, 1,040 MW of electricity will be added to the national transmission system and the total installed capacity will reach 5,53 5 MW.The 40 MW Rahughat Hydropower Project is expected to be completed this year. Finance Minister Khatiwada has said that the bidding process and financial management of big projects like 1061 MW Upper Arun, Budhigandaki Reservoir Project and Betan Karnali Project will be started. 

The budget brought by the government with the focus on sustainable development and modern infrastructure is expected to contribute significantly to the economic transformation of the country.