KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Finance has approved an unprecedented resource assurance worth Rs 54.5 billion to complete 21 major multi-year infrastructure projects across the country.

In a ministerial-level decision chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the government fulfilled nearly the entire budget requested by these projects, a significant departure from past practices where only about 10 percent of such funding requests were cleared.

Following this guarantee, line ministries must initiate the procurement process and publish contract tenders within the next two months, before the fiscal year ends in mid-July.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport secured the bulk of the funding, led by Rs 29.07 billion for the Postal Highway Project Directorate to construct 69 bridges, 10 culverts, and 150 kilometers of roads.

Other major allocations include Rs 3.15 billion for the Kaligandaki Corridor, Rs 3.94 billion for the Mirchaiya-Katari-Ghurmi road, Rs 3.15 billion for the Khulalu-Sallisalla section, Rs 2.33 billion for the Karnali Corridor, and a combined Rs 4.02 billion for the North-South Koshi Highway.

Additionally, Rs 354 million was approved to rebuild the disaster-damaged Liping and Larcha bridges on the Arniko Highway, while Rs 323.7 million was allocated for the Kathmandu Valley Metro Rail feasibility study.

The ministry has warned that all projects must log details into the central budget system and start procurement this fiscal year, or the funding assurance will automatically expire.