Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway Projectपुष्पलाल (मध्यपहाडी) राजमार्ग आयोजना

What is it?

• “मध्यपहाडी (पुष्पलाल) लोकमार्गको १ हजार ८ सय ७९ किलोमिटर” (as of 2082/83) Ministry of Financeअर्थ मन्त्रालय Economic Survey 2082/83 (Nepali), PDF p.185 (printed p.१५१), para १०.६
• “आयोजनाको कुल १८७९ कि.मि.” (as of MTEF 2083/84 (status 'हालसम्म')) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग MTEF 2083/84-2085/86, PDF p.301 (printed p.२९४), budget head ३३७०१११४, column 'हालसम्मको प्रगति स्थिति'
• “लोकमार्गमा पर्ने १३७ पुलमध्ये” (as of 2082/83) Ministry of Financeअर्थ मन्त्रालय Economic Survey 2082/83 (Nepali), PDF p.186 (printed p.१५२), para १०.६ continued

What is it meant to deliver?

• “मध्यपहाडी क्षेत्रका २६ जिल्लामा पहुँच अभिवृद्धि गर्दै अधिकांश खण्ड सञ्चालनमा रहेको” (as of undated brief (its published file name carries 2082/06/10; PDF created 2025-10-07)) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग NPC overrun brief, PDF p.4 (printed p.४), first paragraph

When will it be finished?

Started

“२०६४/०६५” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'आयोजना शुरु आ.व.'

First planned completion

“२०७४।७५” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14 table, column 'सम्पन्न हुने - सुरु'; para 14.1 text: '२०७४।७५ मा सम्पन्न हुने अनुमान रहेकोमा'
Other official figures: “२०७३/७४” (as of undated brief (its published file name carries 2082/06/10; PDF created 2025-10-07)) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग NPC overrun brief PDF p.4, Table २, row ९, column 'सम्पन्न हुने आर्थिक वर्ष (प्रारम्भिक)'

Revised completion

“पटक पटक कार्यतालिका संशोधन भई २०८४।८५ सम्ममा रु.८४ अर्ब ३३ करोडको लागतमा सम्पन्न गर्ने लक्ष्य” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14.1

Revised completion

“२०८४/८५” (as of undated brief (its published file name carries 2082/06/10; PDF created 2025-10-07)) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग NPC overrun brief PDF p.4, Table २, row ९, column 'सम्पन्न हुने आर्थिक वर्ष (संशोधित)'

Official statement on completion

“We will complete the construction of the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway within the next three years.” (as of 2083/84 budget speech) Ministry of Finance (mof.gov.np) - unofficial English translationअर्थ मन्त्रालय - unofficial English translation Budget Speech FY 2026/27 (unofficial English), para 40(f), p.18

Revised completion

“२०८४/८५” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'आयोजना सम्पन्न हुने आ.व.'

What does it cost?

First cost estimate

Rs 33.4 billionरु. ३३.४ अर्ब · “३३३६ (रु.करोडमा)” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'आयोजना लागत अनुमान (रु.करोडमा) | शुरु लागत अनुमान'
Other official figures: “३३३६” रु. करोड (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14 table, column 'लागत अनुमान - सुरुको'; “रु.३३ अर्ब ३६ करोड” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14.1

Revised cost estimate

Rs 84.3 billionरु. ८४.३ अर्ब · “रु.८४ अर्ब ३३ करोड” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14.1

Revised cost estimate

Rs 84.3 billionरु. ८४.३ अर्ब · “८,४३३.००” (as of undated brief (its published file name carries 2082/06/10; PDF created 2025-10-07)) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग NPC overrun brief PDF p.4, Table २, row ९, column 'आयोजनाको संशोधित लागत (रू.करोडमा)'

Revised cost estimate

Rs 84.3 billionरु. ८४.३ अर्ब · “८४३३००” (as of MTEF 2083/84) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग MTEF PDF p.301 (printed p.२९४), budget head ३३७०१११४, column 'लागत (रु लाखमा)'

Revised cost estimate

Rs 84.3 billionरु. ८४.३ अर्ब · “८४३३ (रु.करोडमा)” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'आयोजना लागत अनुमान (रु.करोडमा) | संशोधित लागत अनुमान'

Increase on the first estimate

153%१५३% Calculated by Policy Nepal from the two official figures shown.

Spent so far

Rs 72.3 billionरु. ७२.३ अर्ब · “रु.३ अर्ब १७ करोड ८१ लाखसमेत यस वर्षसम्म रु.७२ अर्ब ३४ करोड खर्च भएको” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346, para 14.1

Spent so far

Rs 71.1 billionरु. ७१.१ अर्ब · “७११० (रु.करोडमा)” (from project start to FY 2081/82मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व. २०८१/८२ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'कुल खर्च (रु.करोडमा)'

Spent so far

Rs 73.6 billionरु. ७३.६ अर्ब · “७३५८.८८ (रु.करोडमा)” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'कुल खर्च (रु.करोडमा)'

Budget each year

Progress over time

Every official progress figure we have found, oldest first. Physical progress is the share of construction work done; financial progress is the share of the budget spent.

Who builds it and who pays?

Built by

पुष्पलाल (मध्यपहाडी) लोकमार्ग योजना कार्यालय रामेछाप (as of 2081/82) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.357, para 33.1 (office named among audited offices)

Ministry

“भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात मन्त्रालय” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346 (printed p.३१४), section header and para 14 table 'मन्त्रालयसँग सम्बन्धित ६ राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजना'

Where

“पाँचथरको चियो भन्ज्याङदेखि बैतडीको झुलाघाटसम्म कुल लम्बाइ १ हजार ८७९ किलोमिटर” (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd report PDF p.346 (printed p.३१४), para 14.1

Funding

२०८३/८४ जम्मा बजेट २,१५,८५ = नेपाल सरकार २९,१५ + वैदेशिक ऋण १,८६,७० (रु. लाख); ऋण स्रोतमा ए डि बि/ रेज(२१०१०१४), रेज/ वर्ड बैंक(२१०३०१९), क्याडपिओ / वर्ड बैंक(२१०३०२०), आई एम एफ / ई सि एफ(२१०४००३)(बजेट सहायता) (as of 2083/84) Ministry of Financeअर्थ मन्त्रालय Red Book 2083/84 PDF p.393 (printed p.३७१) head row and capital lines continued on PDF p.394 (printed p.३७२), column 'स्रोत'

What did the Auditor General find?

• Revised schedule repeatedly; original cost Rs 33.36 arba with completion expected 2074/75, now targeted for 2084/85 at Rs 84.33 arba; 1,510 km blacktopped and 111 bridges, physical progress 81.73% in the 17th year; Rs 72.34 arba spent to date. (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd Annual Report 2083, PDF p.346 (printed p.३१४), para 14.1
• Two bridge designs under the Mid-Hill Highway Parbat section were approved one and two years after submission, and one was still not approved, against a contract requirement of design approval within 9-11 months; delay causes slower construction and cost increase. (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd Annual Report 2083, PDF p.59 (printed p.२९), para ४० 'डिजाइन स्वीकृति'
• Across the ministry's 6 pride projects: lack of policy/legal arrangements, weak preparation, resource management, inter-agency coordination and stakeholder cooperation mean progress is not satisfactory; projects not completed on time and costs rising. (as of २०८१।८२ सम्म (to FY 2081/82)) Office of the Auditor Generalमहालेखा परीक्षकको कार्यालय OAG 63rd Annual Report 2083, PDF p.347 (printed p.३१५), paragraph after 14.4

Why is it a national pride project?

• “पुष्पलाल (मध्यपहाडी) राजमार्ग आयोजना” (from project start to FY 2082/83मिति आयोजना शुरु भएदेखि आ.व.२०८२/८३ सम्म) National Planning Commissionराष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजनाको समष्टिगत प्रगति विवरण, PDF p.1, (क) row १२, column 'राष्ट्रिय गौरवका आयोजना नाम'

What could we not establish?

• No dedicated official project website found/opened.
• Original planned completion differs between OAG (२०७४।७५) and NPC overrun brief (२०७३/७४).
• Total length differs: ES/MTEF/OAG give 1,879 km; scope of 'blacktopped' figures differs by source (ES 1,529 km by mid-March 2026 includes other divisions per MTEF breakdown).
• FY 2082/83 final actual expenditure from MoF not yet available (Red Book 2083/84 gives only revised estimate); NPC table gives 249.31 crore annual expenditure.