![]() |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SN |
Name of Personnel |
Name of Training |
Duration of training |
Training Date |
Training Institute |
1 |
Dipak Nath Chalise |
Computer -aided project management |
48 hours |
9/5/2062 |
Institute of Engineering |
2 |
Rajesh Kumar Das |
Computer -aided project management |
48 hours |
9/5/2062 |
Institute of Engineering |
3 |
Ashish Mani Bhandari |
Computer -aided project management |
48 hours |
5/24/2062 |
Institute of Engineering |
4 |
Ranjit Kumar Jha |
Computer -aided project management |
48 hours |
5/24/2062 |
Institute of Engineering |
5 |
Tek Raj Aryal |
The Professional Accountant-Advance Level |
6 weeks |
6/13/2062 |
Chartered Academics International P. Ltd. |
6 |
Shiva Parajuli |
The Professional Accountant-Advance Level |
6 weeks |
6/13/2062 |
Chartered Academics International P. Ltd. |
7 |
Sudarshan Lal Shrestha |
Technical Audit Training |
3 weeks |
5/27/2062 |
National Vigilance Centre |
8 |
Ramesh Nath Bastola |
Basic Procurement Practices and Contract Administration |
15 Days |
7/24/2062 |
Ministry of Finance |
9 |
Pradhumna Neupane |
Short Training on Assets Management |
4 Days |
8/26/2062 |
Rajashawa Prasashan Talim Kendra |
10 |
Nabin Shrestha |
APTECH Certified Hardware Professional |
6 Months |
12/06/2062 |
Aptech Computer System |
11. |
Nitesh Pokhrel |
Basic Computer Course |
3 Months |
12/06/2062 |
Soft Tech Computer System |
12 |
Rajesh Kumar Das |
Otta Seal Surfacing Training |
2 Days |
2/2/2063 |
DOR/SMDP |
13 |
Ashish Mani Bhandari |
Otta Seal Surfacing Training |
2 Days |
2/1/2063 |
DOR/SMDP |
14 |
Ranjit Kumar Jha |
Otta Seal Surfacing Training |
2 Days |
2/1/2063 |
DOR/SMDP |
II. Dissemination/Training
Even though RBN is in its fourth year of establishment, the stakeholders are found to have problems in preparation of ARMP. Therefore RBN has organized workshops in collaboration with DoLIDAR. The workshop was focused on departing knowledge in preparation of ARMP and give away solution to the problem that is related to the preparation of ARMP. The following seminar was conducted in different Development Regions.
Workshop/Seminar Title |
Objective of Workshop/ Seminar |
Venue and date of Workshop/ Seminar |
Title of presented papers |
Target groups |
Training on Annual Road Maintenance Plan (ARMP) in collaboration with DoLIDAR |
- To facilitate the participants regarding ARMP preparation with knowledge of road maintenance classification and its implementation
- To make aware the participants about the existing problems and figure out the ways to solve it.
|
2063/02/29-30 Central Development Region (Bharatpur)
2063/02/26-27 Western Development Region (Butawal)
2063/03/8-9 Eastern Development Region (Biratnagar)
|
- Road maintenance fund and its effective utilization in local road
- Road maintenance practice, its importance and management
_ Road maintenance classification and its implementation
|
Engineers DDCs and Municipalities |
III. Billboards at the Toll Booths
RBN has been creating awareness regarding Road User Charges at different Toll Booths by installing billboards. Information in the Bill Boards includes provisions in the “Road Board Acts 2058”, Toll Fee and provision of punishment in non-compliance by the vehicle owners. In FY 2061/62, only two billboards were installed at Naubise and Mugling, whereas in FY 2062/63 four billboards were installed at Gaidakot, Butawal, Tikauli and Heauda.
IV. Improvement in Tender Document
In FY 061/62, tender was called for toll collection for three road sectors, but contractors did not turn up to sign the agreement. They requested that some clauses should be amended before signing of contract, but that was not possible then. Thus the job was taken by none. Hence DOR was requested to continue with the collection process. RBN thus felt that the tender documents had to be improved and many committees were formed, but did not materialize. Lastly the Executive Committee of RBN decided to have a committee comprising of experts Mr. Dinkar Sharma, Joint Secretary of MPPW and Mr. K. B. Thapa Senior Divisional Engineer to improve the toll documents. They have worked hard and produced a refined tender document to head for the tolls as early as possible. The improved Tender Documents was approved by the Executive Committee of RBN and endorsed by the Government.
V. Road Users Satisfaction Survey
As RBN is on the verge of completing its third year in operation, with the initiation and funding from World Bank, it was planned to have a “Road Users' Satisfaction Survey”. As a result, Request for Proposal in order to have assessment of road user's satisfaction was made and it was published on 9 th Bhadra 2062. Different reputed firms competed for the proposals. RBN is planning to accomplish RUSS by the end of 2006, and thus process is in progress.
VI. TV Program
In the FY 2062/63, RBN has aired five episodes of TV program highlighting its activities and performances. It was not only focused on the fund disbursement, but also on its programs along with the feedback from the road users. The feedback of the program is coming up in the form of suggestions from various stake holders. RBN has felt that for some years, a continuous program has to be run in order to educate and create awareness among the road users. The concept of Roads Board is still very less understood by the stakeholders and particularly the Road Agencies. RBN is striving hard to make people understand that Roads Board is meant for fund mobilization for purely road maintenance works only.
VII. Toll collection
Due to contractors' shyness in signing the contract, DOR has been collecting Toll Fees in the request of RBN. It is expected that in the FY 063/64, contractors will be mobilized efficiently.
E. Financial Report
In the FY 062/63, RBN received Rs.33,00,00,000/- from MOF through MPPW and the installments received were in the following manner.
SN |
Allocated Fund For |
Installments |
Allocated Fund |
Fund Received Date |
A. |
Development |
|
|
|
Total: Rs.31,68,00,000 |
||||
B. |
Operational |
|
|
|
Total: 1,32,00,000 | ||||
The graphical presentation of allocation and disbursement of FY 2062/2063 is given in Annex-3 (a-g). Similarly Financial Statement of FY 2062/2062 is given in Annex-3 and allocation details of RAs is in Annex-4 (a-c)
F. Monitoring and Evaluation
In FY 062/63, the following RAs have been monitored and information collected has been taken as the suggestion for future.
SN |
Date |
Monitored Road Agencies |
Monitored by |
||
Municipalities |
DDC |
DOR/DRO |
|||
1. |
2062/11/8-11 |
|
|
Palpa |
Mr. Sudarshan Lal Shrestha (Technical Director) |
2. |
2062/11/28-12/01 |
|
Kaski |
|
Mr. Ashish Mani Bhandari (Engineer) |
3. |
2063/11/23-12/04 |
Janakpur |
Dhanusa |
Janakpur |
Mr. Ranjit Kumar Jha ( Engineer) |
4. |
2023/01/31-02/06 |
Bhadrapur Damak Mechi Nagar |
Jhapa |
E.R.R.D. Damak Illam |
Mr. Ashish Mani Bhandari Mr. Ranjit Kumar Jha ( Engineer) |
G. Experiences while monitoring:
Monitoring and Evaluation of RBN funded road maintenance is vital for efficient running of the program. Although, RBN lacks in its human resources for rigorous monitoring, it has aimed at doing so through outsourcing. There has been some hindrance with respect to approval of the monitoring budget through the Executive Committee, thus the secretariat had been able to monitor less than desired. Even with the limited employees, RBN has managed to assess few road agencies and expect to do better in future. It is highly appreciable if in-house monitoring is done, because that will help in collection of all the information and feed back first hand and the improvement process could be expedited.
The foremost problems that have emerged through discussion is the inability in preparation of ARMP by the road agencies. Low bidding by contractors has often led towards deterioration in quality works. Thus this is a major part that has to be addressed properly. In order to minimize the problems, RBN has been conducting series of workshops with the local road agencies towards preparation of ARMP and simplifying them. Four workshops were conducted to acquaint the technical human resources in preparation of ARMP. Situation is slowly improving and given the mobility in the coming days, we are looking forward for better results.
Conclusion
It is considered worthwhile to mention at this juncture that a lot of work remains ahead in order to establish the Roads Board Nepal as a second generation road fund capable to take care of the road management in our country. The World Bank [WB], under whose initiative, the establishment of RBN commenced, reviewed its operation of two years operation. In this context, WB has provided to the government its performance assessment note with some recommendations. Though the recommendations have been owned by the government, its implementation is lagging behind in schedule.
Given the situation in the country, RBN's issue seems not being getting adequate attention where it matters. But with the recent development in overall scenario, positive outcome can be expected.
Despite all these, RBN has been able to function and is delivering its mandated service to the road users within its capacity in prevailing environment. A few of the short falls are relevant to be mentioned here. The following issues are to be resolved for achieving RBN's objectives in the long run:
Independent Board with strong user representation implies that funds will be used in user interests which by default leads to:
- Secure revenue required for planned maintenance,
- Ensure appropriateness of use of the funds through technical, financial and other types of audits,
- Promote transparency in procurement of works, goods and services
- Enhance confidence of those who are actually providing funds that it is being used properly
In order to achieve a better road maintenance management, a more functional road fund has to be promoted with:
- Technical capability and financial adequacy for need based maintenance expenditure
- Adequate level of political commitment and support
- Strong agencies to actually implement maintenance work based on performance agreement
Toll collection is becoming more complex and challenging in terms of its contract management, cash handling, and crisis of confidence.
Recruitment of capable staff and retaining already developed human resources has becoming a threat as there has not been any improvement of incentive framework as suggested by the WB.
With the initiatives of the government towards improvement of its legislation and other regulations, it is hoped that the situation should improve in future.
|
|||||||||||||||||