KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Outer Ring Road project, considered an initiation of significant importance, has reportedly not been allocated any budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25.

As per the Ministry of Finance, the government has categorized this project under ‘priority two’.

However, with the lack of clarity on construction and funding modalities, the project has remained stalled.

Neither has the government allocated a budget for initiating the project nor has it officially cancelled it.

Despite an estimated expenditure of 800,000 rupees for the current fiscal year 2024/25, the government has not designated any budget for the next fiscal year.

Since its conceptualization, the Outer Ring Road project has remained stagnant for the past two years.

According to the 61st Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General, the idea of the Outer Ring Road was introduced in 2058 B.S.

However, progress on the project has been limited to feasibility studies over the past 22 years.

The Kathmandu Valley Development Authority has incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 148,405,7000 for the Outer Ring Road Development Project to date.

Planned as a solution for organized urban development in three districts within the Kathmandu Valley, covering a distance of 72 kilometers, the Outer Ring Road was envisioned to enhance urban living standards.