The road expansion initiative in the Kathmandu valley, which had come to a standstill with recent annulment of the Town Development Act 2045 in keeping with a Supreme Court directive, is likely to gather momentum in line with the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority Act, which took effect on April 13.

Meanwhile, bulldozing of structures built on encroached land will continue, said Bhaikaji Tiwari, chief of the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee Implementation Committee, after a meeting with Minister for Physical Planning and Construction Works today at the ministry. Sources said Prime Minister had criticised Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathi and Secretary at the ministry Tulsi Prasad Sitaula over delays in the road-widening initiative.

The government has deputed 200 civil servants at the committee, including Tiwari, who had expedited the broad-road initiative together with DIG and chief of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division Ganesh Raj Rai, for three months, meaning they can be transferred after the expiry of the period. Their transfer to other departments, authorities fear, will affect the road-widening initiative in the valley.

It should be noted that DIG Rai is under scanner on corruption charges.

To expedite the road-widening project, the government plans to form a new authority under a former secretary and fill up positions with political appointees, like in public enterprises, whose performance is not satisfactory.

Management consultant Narayan Manandhar said a new authority does not make sense when efforts are on to restructure the state.

While Prime Minister’s economic adviser Rameswor Khanal underlined the need for a separate authority to carry out development works like Delhi and Lucknow development authorities. Such bodies, according to Khanal, can make prompt decisions and are not susceptible to frequent transfer o employees.

“Government entities like the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction have delivered precious little. A powerful authority will be formed in the upcoming fiscal and it will be given enough funds to execute the tasks,” he said.

source: The Himalayan Times,23 April 2012