Budget Prioritizes Rail, Sports, Health, and Irrigation in Madhesh Province

15 Jestha, Siraha – The government has presented the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle unveiled the budget on Friday during the joint session of the Federal Parliament. The budget places special emphasis on infrastructure, health, sports, agriculture, tourism, and drinking water sectors in Madhesh Province.

According to Minister Wagle, projects related to railways, stadiums, hospitals, irrigation, and tourism development in the districts of Madhesh have been given top priority. The government has announced plans to advance the railway expansion work connecting Bardibas and Kathmandu via an express route. Budget allocation has been secured for the ongoing Bardibas–Biratnagar railway project, and funding has also been earmarked to complete the remaining works on the Janakpur–Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line.

In the area of sports infrastructure, the government has allocated NPR 403 million. In preparation for the proposed 11th National Sports Competition in Madhesh Province, necessary infrastructure will be developed. The budget highlights plans to upgrade at least ten football stadiums with a capacity of 8,000 spectators each by adding floodlights within the next three years. Additionally, indoor multipurpose stadiums with capacities of at least 2,000 spectators are planned for construction in Viratnagar, Lahan, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Surkhet, and Dhangadhi. The budget also aims for the establishment of modern cricket stadiums across eight major cities within five years.

Regarding healthcare, infrastructure development will progress at Narayani Hospital, Gajendranarayan Singh Hospital, and Ram Rajaprasad Singh Health Science Institute located in Madhesh Province. The government has announced plans to establish kidney disease treatment centers and trauma centers within the province. Furthermore, free cancer treatment for children will be provided at government hospitals.

In agriculture, plans include establishing mango processing centers in Siraha–Saptari and a tomato processing center in Sarlahi. To extend underground irrigation to 3,980 hectares of cultivable land in the Terai-Madhesh region currently lacking surface irrigation, NPR 183 million has been allocated.

To sustain the water cycle in Terai-Madhesh, approximately NPR 100 million has been allocated for programs involving water source conservation, pond construction, landslide control, and embankment building. In the drinking water sector, community-level water supply projects including deep boring will be expanded to address severe shortages during dry seasons. The government also plans to initiate the ‘Arsenic-Free Terai Campaign.’ An additional NPR 250 million has been allocated to complete 280 incomplete drinking water projects.

In tourism and culture, the process to inscribe Janakpurdham as a World Heritage site will be advanced. The government plans to develop and brand Janakpur as a ‘wedding destination.’ Budget provisions have also been made for upgrading Ramjanaki Path and Ramjanaki Parikrama roads, Minister Wagle stated. Moreover, Sakha in Saptari, Dhanushadham, and Gadhimai regions will be developed as regional corridors as outlined in the budget.

The budget also includes plans to operate model homestays in Madhesh for Dalit and impoverished communities as a demonstration project.