Government to Develop Regional "Growth Poles and Quads" Across the Country

Kathmandu — The government will increase investment in the all-round provincial development of rural and urbanising areas that hold strong potential for economic growth, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced through the budget.

Wagle said an integrated plan of policy and physical infrastructure will be implemented to develop such areas as "growth poles and quads."

Building on the 122,000-hectare command area to be irrigated by the Sunkoshi Marin Diversion, he said the remaining works on the Hulaki (Postal) Highway and the East-West Highway expansion will be completed to create a "Mid-Madhesh Quadrangle" centred on agriculture and industry.

The Finance Minister said arrangements will be made for herbs, hydropower, tourism, and mining-related activities to be promoted in the "Karnali Quadrangle" — comprising the Mid-Hill (Pushpalal) Highway, the Karnali Highway, the Bheri Corridor, and the stretch from Rara through Jumla to Phoksundo.

He said the Butwal-Narayanghat and Mugling-Damauli-Pokhara sections of the East-West Highway will be completed soon. By beginning the international-standard transformation of the Siddhartha Highway, the government will turn the area of origin of the Kaligandaki civilisation into a "Gandaki Quadrangle" focused on pilgrimage tourism and clean enterprise. A "Shaligram Path" will also be developed by integrating Triveni Dham, Devghat, Ruru Kshetra (Ridi), Kagbeni, Muktinath, and Damodar Kunda.

Promoting a "Nirvana Path" based on the Lumbini-Muktinath religious-cultural route, the government will integrate meditation, sadhana, yoga, Buddhist-Vedic philosophy, and the Himalayan cultural experience of Manang, Mustang, and Myagdi. Wagle said the government aims to connect the Mid-Hill Highway with northern eco-trade destinations such as Olangchung Gola, Kimathanka, Tatopani, Rasuwagadhi, Korla, and Hilsa.

The government will advance the Koshi Corridor plan — covering the area from Koshi Tappu to Kanchenjunga — focused on biodiversity conservation and clean energy development.

Finally, the Finance Minister said the government will move ahead with the development of a distinctive "tourism quad" in the Far West, covering the Ramaroshan, Khaptad, Badimalika, Shaileshwari, Ugratara, and Mallikarjun areas.