The push for small-scale projects undercuts federalism

Subnational levels, not the federal government, should handle all small-scale infrastructure projects.

A new government, with a vision to bring about good governance, may have been established in Nepal, but the troubling pattern of lawmakers requesting small-scale schemes for their constituencies in the national budget remains unchanged. With fiscal year 2026-27 about to commence in a few months, parliamentarians are again besieging the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, seeking funds for roads, bridges and minor works. The ministry has already recorded 686 project proposals, of which at least 14 are low-budget projects worth less than Rs10 million. Such low-cost projects fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and local governments and are not supported by the federal government’s guidelines for national-level investment.