Sudurpaschim province to implement project bank from next fiscal year

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Provincial Government is set to implement a project bank from the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.

The project bank will be introduced through the operation of a project bank management information system (software). The Policy and Planning Commission stated that the system aims to prevent duplication of projects, facilitate online entry, make processes paperless, and provide features such as cloud-based storage.

According to Nrip Sunar, a member of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, major provincial projects will be included in the project bank, and budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year will be based on these listed projects. The commission has already provided training to employees working in ministries, departments, and planning branches on the operation of the system. The training was conducted by Dr. Ganesh Gautam.

It is expected that the implementation of the project bank will ensure the security of project details, save time, and eliminate the need for repeated data entry. The software will also help maintain systemic uniformity, as a single system will be used at the federal, provincial, and local levels.

The Council of Ministers meeting held on April 29, chaired by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, approved the criteria for project selection for the Far Western Province, 2083. According to the approved criteria, projects under the provincial road master plan, 2082, tourism master plan, 2078, and multi-year contract projects worth more than Rs 10 million to be implemented by the provincial government must be included in the project bank. Sequential projects are also required to be entered into the system.

The criteria further state that thematic ministries should prepare a separate list of projects below the cost limit (project roster) and maintain it visibly within the electronic information system of the project bank.

Dr. Jeevan Rana, Vice Chairman of the Policy and Planning Commission, said that preparations for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget have already begun. He added that the provincial government will prioritize projects focused on poverty reduction, employment generation, and return-oriented initiatives.