KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has reassured visiting Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President Jonathan Brooks that the MCC project will be completed within the specified timeframe. Vice President Brooks, along with his team, engaged in formal discussions at the Ministry on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Minister Pun emphasized the government's dedication to finishing the MCC project within the agreed-upon schedule. He underscored the importance of cooperation and coordination from the ministry's end to ensure the timely completion of the project. "The government remains committed to completing the MCC Compact projects on time, and that commitment persists," he affirmed.

Minister Pun further pledged to address issues such as land acquisition for project implementation and resolving concerns regarding the usage of forest areas under the MCC Nepal program. Vice President Brooks, on his part, briefed about the progress made in constructing electricity transmission lines and roads under the MCC project, expressing satisfaction with the project's advancement.

The MCC agreement, valued at around Rs 60 billion, entails the construction of 315 kilometers of long electricity transmission lines and 77 kilometers of roads within a five-year timeframe. Of the total budget, MCC will provide Rs 45 billion in grants, while the Nepali government will invest Rs 15 billion. The project's objective includes the construction of a transmission line extending from Butwal to Gorakhpur in India, along with a 315-kilometer double-circuit 400 kV transmission line. Despite the agreement being signed in 2017, the project's implementation began only after the Nepali Parliament approved the agreement two years ago.