Kathmandu, March 24 -- New procurement processes for ongoing projects have come to a standstill due to the government's failure to grant multi-year resource consent, with projects of national pride and strategic importance particularly affected.

Under the Department of Roads, the Mid-Hill, Hulaki and Madan Bhandari highways have been unable to move ahead with new contracts. Likewise, the Koshi, Kaligandaki and Karnali corridor roads are facing similar hurdles.

The proposal seeking resource consent for the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track has also been forwarded for approval. Shyam Bahadur Khadka, deputy director general and spokesperson for the Department of Roads, said that except for one project, none have received resource consent ...