KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaulagain today assumed the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

On the occasion, he signed a minute endorsing a decision to urge the Asian Development Bank to include the Karnali Highway in its project pipeline for road upgrading and safety improvement.

Similarly, he approved a decision to relocate the Bailey bridge over the Hima River at Nagma, located on the border of Jumla and Kalikot, following the construction of a concrete bridge over the river. The Bailey bridge will be shifted to the Tila River to connect wards 5 and 4 of Tatopani Rural Municipality in Jumla.

The Minister also signed a decision to form a five-member committee under the coordination of Joint Secretary Sushil Babu Dhakal. The committee will submit recommendations for amending the criteria related to the qualifications of Class ‘D’ construction entrepreneurs as mentioned in Schedule 13 of the Construction Business Rules, 2056 BS.

The post at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had fallen vacant following the resignation of former Minister Kulman Ghising. Prime Minister Sushila Karki assigned Chaulagain the responsibility of the Ministry.