Chapter 11: Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Communication

· Total of Rs.163.52 billion had been allocated for roads, rail and water transport
infrastructure development in F/Y budget 2076/77

Road

· By the end of FY 2019/2020, a total of 32,879 Km strategic and local road network have
been constructed including 15254 Km blacktopped, 7,231 Km graveled and 9,251 Km earthen.

· By mid-March of FY 2019/20, district road main network, rural road network and urban road
network under the various infrastructure development and agricultural roads operated in the
local level, the proportion of road in the Mountain region is 13.73 percent, Hilly region 54.69
percent and Terai region 31.58 percent.

National pride projects

● Budget 2076/77 had been allocated Rs. 12.20 billion for blacktopping 435 k.m. of the
Mid-Hill Pushpalal Highway which was under construction in F/Y 2076/77

Under Mid-hill (Pushpalal) Highway (1,879 Km), the road construction of 186 Km gravel, 140
Km blacktopped and 11 bridges have been completed by mid-March of FY 2019/20. 67 bridges
have been completed out of 129. Under this highway during the previous FY 2018/19,
construction of 1,435 Km track, 101 Km graveled, 35 Km blacktopped and 56 bridges were
completed.

Budget 2076/77 had been allocated Rs. 13.63 billion for blacktopping 350 k.m. of the Postal
Highway that connects the Terai districts.

Under Postal Highway Project (1,792.4 Km) by mid-March of FY 2019/20, construction of 142.5
Km blacktopped road, 200 Km graveled road and 10 bridges have been completed. In total
270km blacktopped, 325km graveled, and 85 bridges have been completed.

Aviation

· Only 86% of the construction work of Gautam Buddha International Airport has been
completed whereas the budget targeted its regular flight operation to be started from Asar 2077.

· No. of international airlines operating flights to Nepal 30

· No. of airports operating in all season is 35

· No. of Nepali Airlines operating international flights 3

· No. of countries with bilateral air service agreements 40

· No. of airlines operating internal flights (Fixed+Roter Wings) 19

Railways

• Out of 70 km. of Janakpur/jayanagar-bardibas railway, 56 km has been completed,

whereas the budget aimed to complete the section railway within F/Y 2076/77.

• Detailed feasibility reports of Birgunj-Kathmandu and Rasuwagadhi Kathmandu railways

that connect Kathmandu from both India and China has been prepared as per plan of the F/Y
budget 2076/77, however, construction has not been started yet which is planned to initiate
within two years.

• Some of the railway sections are under construction and detailed feasibility study of
some projects has been completed, as the F/Y 2076/77 budget had emphasized Railway
infrastructure development with an aim to enter the country in a new era through the
development of railways that provide sustainable and easy means of land transport.

Communication

• The broadcasting coverage of Radio Nepal has been extended to 87.0 % of the
population. It is broadcast for regular 24-hours worldwide through online.

• Among the registered newspapers, in terms of language, the highest number of

newspapers registered for Nepali language with 5293.

• By mid 2020, telephone user density has reached 139 %, and internet user density
reached 75%, which was 137% and 60% in last year respectively.

• No. of mobile phone users has been increased by 5.9% in comparison to last F/Y
2075/76. Total no. of mobile phone users is 4, 05, and 96,296.