Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has expressed the view that the government should downsize the number of national pride projects to curb escalating costs and chronic delays. Officials argued that limiting the projects would ensure adequate funding and improve implementation efficiency.

Rabilal Pantha, NPC member-secretary, told the parliamentary Finance Committee on Monday that the government should limit the number of national pride projects to a maximum of 10 from the existing 27. He said many projects face policy, legal, and practical hurdles that hinder progress.

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG), in its 63rd annual report, also highlighted sharp cost escalations. Construction expenses for several national pride projects are projected to rise by as much as 113 percent due to prolonged delays and sluggish work. The report noted that Rs 104.92 billion has already been spent on six projects under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, but their total cost is expected to exceed Rs 217.16 billion. Physical progress ranges from just 26.65 percent to 82.27 percent.

The latest Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2025/26 echoed similar concerns, stating that despite years of investment, most road and highway projects remain incomplete. “Despite being designated as national pride projects, many initiatives have failed to meet targets within stipulated timelines, raising concerns about efficiency and accountability in infrastructure development,” the survey observed.

Pantha suggested revising the criteria for national pride projects and reclassifying the remainder as transformational or priority projects. He noted that the government has expanded the list from 17 to more than two dozen over the past 15 years, despite weak preparation and poor financing mechanisms. Plans to introduce sovereign wealth bonds, offshore bonds, and thematic bonds have stalled due to lack of coordination among the NPC, Ministry of Finance, and Nepal Rastra Bank.

Lima Adhikari Acharya, a lawmaker from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, criticized the delays, saying they have imposed a heavy financial burden on the state. “Although the number of national pride projects has increased, their classification and prioritization have not been properly done,” she said.

Costs of individual projects have surged dramatically. The Babai Irrigation Project’s budget has ballooned from Rs 2.87 billion to Rs 18.96 billion. The railway and metro development project has soared from Rs 70.62 billion to Rs 955.22 billion. Acharya added that the President’s Chure Conservation Program and the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project have also seen “unnatural” cost increases. She questioned whether the NPC conducts proper cost-benefit analyses to assess the viability of such mega projects.