The government has brought policies and programs by prioritizing projects such as the Kathmandu-Terai Madhes Expressway and the East-West Electric Railway. The policy and program for the fiscal year 2083/84 presented by President Ram Chandra Poudel in both houses of parliament on Monday mentions that a policy will be adopted to complete the Kathmandu-Terai Madhes Expressway and its link roads as soon as possible. 

However, eight years after its launch, the progress of the expressway has been only 45.16 percent as of last Magh. The army has been saying that the expressway, which was formally launched in 2074, reached 2078 after receiving approval from the Council of Ministers and going through the contracting process. As a result, the expected progress has not been made even after years since the project began. 

The government has a policy of continuing the construction of the East-West Electric Railway and continuing studies on the investment modalities of the Kerung-Kathmandu and Raxaul-Kathmandu railways. In the last Falgun election, the East-West Railway was often mentioned in the manifestos of political parties. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) government did not include it in its pledge. But the railway has been given priority in the government's policies and programs. 

In the elections since 2048, political parties have been dreaming of an east-west electric railway. But the railway plan is stalled. Even the work on the east-west railway, which is being operated with the grant of the Indian government, has been stopped. The structure including the railway track is being constructed from Bardibas in Mahottari to Chocha in Rautahat. About 28 billion has been spent on it. About 24.5 billion rupees are required as compensation for those affected by the railway. 

The government has announced to accelerate the upgrading and expansion of the national road network including the postal, Pushpalal, and North-South Highways. It has also said that all local levels will be connected to the road network that will operate all year round. ‘To accelerate infrastructure development, the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit will be strengthened and implemented in a mission model,’ the policy and program states, ‘to complete major projects on time, an improved contract system and engineering standards will be effectively implemented.’

The government has stated that it will prepare an ‘Integrated National Transport Master Plan’ to cover road, rail, water, ropeway and air transport. The policy and program also mentions that disputes related to infrastructure will be heard and decided quickly according to the ‘Investment Express’ concept. Most of the country’s major projects are embroiled in compensation disputes, land acquisition, tree felling, etc. The government has a policy to make arrangements for the mandatory completion of a detailed project report, environmental clearance and land acquisition before the budget is passed. 

‘The expenditure distortion focused on Ashar will be eliminated by implementing the ‘zero-day procurement policy’ that will start the procurement process from Shrawan itself,’ the policy and program states, ‘an open public procurement policy will be implemented for large procurements.’ There is a tendency for the budget to be presented in Jestha in the country and implemented from Shrawan, but contracts are awarded only in Kartik/Mansir. 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has set a target of generating 30,000 megawatts of electricity in the coming decade in its election manifesto. To achieve this target, it has announced that it will implement a single-door system by amending the laws related to energy, forest, land and environment. Energy promoters say that more than 23 government agencies have to be visited to build a project. It is seen that the government has adopted a policy of implementing a single-door system to end this situation. 

The government has adopted a policy of ensuring the participation of the private sector in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and trade. Currently, the private sector is only involved in electricity generation in the country. The Nepal Electricity Authority has a monopoly on transmission, distribution and trade. The government has adopted a policy of massively increasing domestic consumption by promoting energy-based industries. Although 4,200 MW of electricity is currently connected to the national system, the peak demand is only 2,600 MW. At other times, the Electricity Authority has stated that it can reach 1,800 MW. 

It has also said that international energy trade agreements will be made a means of attracting long-term investment. Currently, Nepal has received approval to export 40 MW to Bangladesh and 1,000 MW to India. The policy and program mentions giving the residents of the project-affected areas the option of investing in shares instead of compensation. The projects have not been able to gain momentum due to compensation disputes in the country. It is said that off-grid solar, wind and small hydropower systems will be expanded in places where the national grid does not reach. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, more than 99 percent of Nepal has been electrified by 2082, including the national grid, solar, wind and small hydropower. 

Even though the government has included the target of 30,000 MW in its pledges, policies and programs related to governance reform, Ganesh Karki, chairman of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), says that emphasis should be placed on implementation. “To meet the target set by the government, it had to be implemented,” he said, “for that, the modalities of 30,000 MW should be clarified.”

Karki said that if the government builds roads and transmission lines, they will fulfill the government’s target by building projects. He said that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) should be opened initially. 

The government has said that it will make public transport reliable by developing an electric mass transit system. It is stated that GPS tracking, AI-based traffic cameras, digital fine system and speed control will be strictly implemented to reduce road accidents. ‘Safe infrastructure will be built for pedestrians and cyclists,’ the policy and program states, ‘The detailed design and implementation process of ‘Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)’ will be initiated in Kathmandu.’

The government has announced to ensure safe access of women to public transport. In the first phase of the 100 agenda related to governance reforms, the government plans to bring at least 25 blue bus services into operation within 100 days. 

The government has stated that it will expand special economic zones and establish ‘industrial villages’ with common infrastructure. The government has announced the construction of industrial villages in 120 municipalities of the country in the past 6 years. However, the Ministry of Industry says that only 4 have been operational as of Chaitra 2081. The government has a policy of developing productive and innovation-based industrial zones including Green Garment Village, Information Technology Park, Agricultural Production Center and others, and linking such areas with industrial tourism. 

The government has said that it will set the minimum support price for major agricultural crops before planting crops in agriculture. So far, the government has been fixing support prices for rice, sugarcane, coffee, etc. It has been said that the implementation of support prices and payment systems will be made digital so that the money will be deposited directly into the farmers' bank accounts. 

'Private companies and cooperatives that purchase agricultural produce at the minimum support price will be provided concessions. Food management and trading companies will be made capable,' the policy and program states. The government has announced that it will establish agricultural companies and networks in public-private partnerships to reduce post-production losses and strengthen the supply chain. 

'Exports of uniquely identified products with quality standards and certification will be promoted through storage, branding, and marketing,' the policy and program states. The program also states that coordination will be established between the three levels of government to strengthen the regulation of the import and use of pesticides. It has also been said that an internationally accredited laboratory will be developed, expanded, and operated to test pesticides at major agricultural produce markets and customs points. 

The government plans to ensure access of youth, women, landless and small and marginalized farmers to use barren land for production purposes through the land bank system. The Land Use (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2082 have already included land banks. The government also has provisions related to land banks in Section 21 of the Land Use Act, 2076. However, the land bank was not included in the regulations issued on 23 Jestha 2079. Although there is a provision related to land banks in the Act, it is not in the regulations. However, the 'land bank' has been included in the third amendment to the regulations. Land banks have been given priority in the government's policies and programs for years. But it has not been implemented so far. 

The government has a policy of conserving biodiversity and promoting indigenous crops by providing subsidies on organic and inorganic fertilizers to improve soil health. It has also been announced to formulate a new 'National Industrial Policy' by revising the Industrial Policy, 2067. 

The government has a policy of effectively implementing the Nepal Trade Integrated Strategy and the Trade Deficit Reduction Action Plan. The policy and program states that ‘expanding investment areas, project pipelines will be prepared through public-private partnerships and investment risk sharing and contract structures will be clarified. The government has taken a policy to formulate a ‘Women Entrepreneurship Development Strategy’ to make women-led enterprises market-oriented. It is stated that policy, legal and institutional reforms will be made to develop the mineral and mining sector as a basis for economic growth.