Kathmandu, April 12: In an address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, referred to his speech in the recently held Boao Forum in China, and said Nepal could assert its significance in the Asian arena only when it made strides on social and economical developments.
The PM was of the belief that although the recently inked transit treaty between Nepal and China had helped reinforce Nepal's position as a landlocked country in its truest sense, Nepal has managed to establish land-linked connection with other neighboring countries via the two neighbors India and China.
Reiterating the high-priority projects on road, railways and aviation network, Prime Minister Oli reaffirmed that the government aims to deliver on Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track, Kimathanka-Jogbani road, Rasuwagadhi-Thori road, Koralla-Belhiya (Sunauli) road and Hilsa-Karnali link.
Listed among the future plans of the incumbent government are Kerung-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway network along with East-West Highway in Terai.
The construction of proposed Nijgadh international airport at Nijgad, upgradation of the one and only international airport-Tribhuwan International Airport- and regional international airports at Bhairahawa and Pokhara are also among the priority projects as PM Oli puts it.
Similarly, batting for the development of energy in the country, the PM shared that the construction of the Upper Tamakoshi hydro electricity project will be expedited. The construction of the hydro projects with foreign investment such as Pancheshower, Uppar Karnali and Arun III will be prioritized.
Likewise, the government will spring into construction of the proposed hydro projects as Budhigandaki, Nalsinghgaadh and Naumure, the PM added.
The government, to advance the green revolution, will further the irrigation projects as Sunkoshi-Kamala-Bagmati, Kaligandhaki-Tinau, Rapti-Surai, Bheri-Babai diversion. To promote commercial agriculture, farmers will be encouraged to work in cooperatives, communal and partnership model.
Sharing that he envisages Nepal as a "Smart City" rather than a village, town and settlements reconstructed after retrofitting, Oli pledged that the government is to promote e-governance.
This will, according to him, expand and enhance the communication network with India and China through the installing of optical fiber, heavy data transmission via broadband internet services.
The PM urged the political parties to join the cause of nation-building and ushering the country and countrymen towards prosperity.
"Since the prosperity of nation and well-being of the people is the common and permanent issue, I urge the political parties to be focused on these issues," he reiterated.
Wishing all the countrymen a happy Nepali New Year-2073, the PM once again underscored a broad national consensus for the effective implementation of the new constitution. RSS

