KATHMANDU: To mitigate the heavy human and material losses caused annually by road accidents and monsoon-induced landslides, the government has allocated over Rs 5.62 billion in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27.

Shifting away from the traditional practice of only funding road expansions, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has designated distinct budget lines for these safety issues, allocating over Rs 3.17 billion specifically for landslide control and more than Rs 2.45 billion for road and traffic safety.

Experts and former ministry officials have welcomed this proactive approach, noting that it prioritizes long-term prevention and risk reduction over the previous reactive policy of only funding emergency repairs after disasters occur.