Biratnagar Metropolitan City Boosts Spending Capacity

Biratnagar Metropolitan City, the lone metropolis of Koshi Province, has significantly improved its spending capacity. In the fiscal year 2023/24, the city utilized 65% of its capital budget, up from 50% in 2022/23. Out of Rs 1.67 billion allocated for capital expenditure, Rs 1.08 billion was spent this year.

Mayor Nagesh Koirala credited this improvement to regular monitoring and effective coordination among people’s representatives, employees, and construction companies. “The active involvement of people’s representatives, employees, construction companies, and consumer committees has improved capital expenditure in the metropolis,” Koirala stated. “We will improve it further in the coming fiscal year.”

In terms of recurrent expenditure, the metropolis successfully utilized 84.55% of its budget in 2023/24, spending Rs 1.38 billion out of the Rs 1.38 billion allocated. Recurrent expenditures cover regular costs such as employee salaries and administrative operations, while capital expenditures are directed towards development projects like road and bridge construction.

Additionally, Rs 47.3 million out of Rs 50 million earmarked for financial management was spent.

Overall, Biratnagar spent 75% of its total budget for 2023/24, a notable increase from 64% in 2022/23. The total allocation for the fiscal year was Rs 3.36 billion, with Rs 2.52 billion spent, as reported by Sanjeev Bhattarai, Chief of the Accounts Department of Biratnagar Metropolitan City.

Looking ahead, the metropolis has proposed a budget of Rs 3.49 billion for the fiscal year 2024/25.