KATHMANDU: Nepal will prioritize concrete roads over bitumen-based asphalt under a new government directive aimed at promoting domestic products and construction technologies.
The Cabinet approved the Directive on the Promotion and Use of Domestic Products in Public Procurement, 2083 on Friday. The directive requires public infrastructure projects to prioritize suitable locally available materials and technologies.
Under the new rules, roads, bridges and buildings must be designed to use domestic alternatives where technically suitable. This includes cement concrete roads, locally available stones and other local construction methods.
The use of domestic materials must be considered from the feasibility study and design stages through to the preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs), cost estimates and tender documents.
The directive also encourages the use of locally produced construction and finishing materials in government buildings. Suitable Nepali marble, stone, slate and tiles will be prioritized over imported materials such as granite and tiles. Domestic alternatives will also be considered for decoration, electrical fittings, furniture and sanitary works.
However, locally produced materials must meet required standards for quality, safety, durability and technical performance.
Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal said the policy is expected to expand the market for domestic products, increase industrial production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports.
The directive also prohibits technical specifications designed to favor a particular foreign brand, production site or country of origin when suitable domestic alternatives are available.
Public procurement documents and construction contracts must include mandatory provisions for using domestic materials. Once specified in a contract, foreign materials cannot be substituted without approval.
The directive further allows construction materials produced or processed from natural resources and raw materials available in Nepal to be used in public projects across the country.
Public agencies, design engineers, consultants and approving officials will be responsible for ensuring compliance. Contractors and suppliers found falsely labeling imported materials as domestic, using fake brands or providing false information about production sites may face rejected supplies, withheld payments, blacklisting and legal action.
The government expects the directive to support domestic industries, generate employment and increase economic activity within the country.
