Kathmandu. Noteworthy progress has been made in road connectivity, strategic roads and digital access along with expansion of investment in physical infrastructure, transport and communications sectors remaining the bases of the country’s economic and social development.

The Economic Survey 2082-83 BS has shown progress in road construction, projects of national pride and expansion of communication infrastructure. According to the survey, the density of blacktopped roads constructed by the federal government has reached 138.7 meters per square kilometer. Digital television access has reached 82 per cent of households and 103.2 per cent of the population has mobile telephone subscriber density.

A total of 36,806 kilometres of roads have been constructed till mid-March 2082 BS under the strategic and local road network. Of this, 20,456 kms have been blacktopped, 7,602 kms gravel and 8,748 kms of dirt roads. The total length of the road in the same period of the previous fiscal year was 36,226 kilometres.

In the fiscal year 2081/82, 301 kilometers of new dirt roads were constructed and 1,235 kilometers of roads were upgraded to blacktopping level. Till mid-March of the current fiscal year, 76 kilometers of new roads have been constructed, 413 kilometers of roads have been blacktopped and 102 bridges have been constructed.

There has been significant progress in the projects of national pride. Of the 1,879 kilometres of the Mid-Hill (Pushpalal) Highway, blacktopping of 1,529 kilometres has been completed. Likewise, 114 out of 137 bridges have been constructed.

The construction work of the Postal Highway has also gained momentum. Out of 1,857 kilometres of the road, 1,381 kilometres have been blacktopped and 143 out of 250 bridges have been completed.

A total of 292 kilometres road along the Kaligandaki corridor along the North-South Highway has been blacktopped and 36 bridges have been constructed. The construction of the entire track in the Karnali corridor has been completed and 41.5 kilometers of gravel road has been constructed so far.

Under the Koshi corridor, additional 14 kilometers of roads have been blacktopped and 11 bridges have been constructed. Of the total 740 kilometers of the highway, 395.5 kilometers have been blacktopped.

A total of 95.5-km four-lane road has been constructed along the Narayanghat-Butwal road section. The first phase of blacktopping of the 78.4-km four-lane Muglin-Pokhara road has been completed.

A total of 1,126 metres of concrete lining of the main tunnel of the tunnel has been completed. Works related to lighting, ventilation, fire fighting and installation of information system have also been completed.

The construction of seven tunnels along the Kathmandu-Tarai-Madhes fast track is underway. According to the Economic Survey, various phases of structures are being constructed for the construction of bridges under this project.

However, with the expansion of infrastructure, more attention has been given to the quality of roads, timely completion, road safety and long-term sustainability