Kathmandu, December 21
The government has established specific criteria, stipulating that only projects with a cost exceeding Rs 50 billion can be officially designated as national pride projects.
As per the Basis and Criteria for Project Classification 2023, recently approved in a Council of Ministers meeting, a project can attain national pride status only if its cost exceeds Rs 50 billion. Additionally, the project must align with national development priorities and strategies, subject to declaration and review.
Min Bahadur Shrestha, Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, highlighted that the newly established standard is expected to address project duplication across the three levels of government and streamline the prioritisation of high-impact state projects.
The criteria further outline that recognised national pride projects should exhibit a substantial alignment with the government’s long-term vision, contributing to goal achievement, increased economic activities, job creation, and the promotion of entrepreneurship.
Shrestha said that even previously announced national pride projects would undergo a review per the new standard. The Commission’s recommendation played a key role in formulating these criteria, empowering the government to announce and evaluate projects effectively.
As of December 2023, the government has enlisted 25 projects as national pride projects, with only the Upper Tamakosi Hydropower Project, Pokhara Regional International Airport, and Gautam Buddha International Airport being completed so far.
Almost none of the national pride projects are completed on time. A reason for the delay has been political leadership and bureaucracy that feel putting projects in limbo helps them earn more.
