Kathmandu – Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, instructed employees to focus on managing defective projects. He emphasized that neglected and defective projects should not hinder construction development and urged that the management of such projects be prioritized, regardless of the reasons behind the delays.
Addressing the Project Operation and Management Staff Seminar organized by the Road Division on Wednesday, Minister Dahal also highlighted the importance of focusing on defective project management and addressing audit objections.
Minister Dahal stated, “If there is any issue related to acts and laws, inform us; the Ministry will resolve the problem. The government will work, but it will not accept actions that block projects.” He also pointed out that the lack of coordination between government bodies leads to delays in work and directed that coordination between bodies handling roads, electricity, drinking water, and forests be improved to speed up construction activities.
The Ministry, during project selection, prioritizes necessity and justification over popularity, Minister Dahal urged employees to consider these factors during project selection and recommendation. He also mentioned that since citizens experience the government through its employees, a simpler approach to service delivery should be adopted once the goals are achieved.
Ministry Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma said that the Ministry will facilitate if there are any problems while working with good intentions. He also directed to identify and prioritize the defective projects and manage them.
Project Director Ram Hari Pokhrel emphasized that safety and sustainability have been prioritized in road construction and directed that the work be carried out accordingly. He introduced a 17-point directive, stating that rewards and punishments will be applied based on adherence to and implementation of these guidelines.
The seminar was facilitated by Deputy Director General of the Department of Roads, Vijay Jaishi, the Ministry’s Chief of Accounts, Madhu Pokharel, Department of Roads’ Chief of Accounts, Rabin Koirala, Ministry’s Deputy Secretary, Krishna Chandra Poudel, CDE Amit Verma, and Engineer Sujit Dhital, who covered various topics.