Himal Press 
ITAHARI: Biratnagar Metropolitan City has improved its spending capacity.
The lone metropolis of Koshi Province spent 65% of its capital budget in fiscal year 2023/24, compared to 50% in 2022/23. The metropolis spent Rs 1.08 billion out of Rs 1.67 billion allocated for capital expenditure in the current fiscal year.
Biratnagar Mayor Nagesh Koirala attributed the improvement in capital expenditure 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 said. “We will improve it further in the coming fiscal year.”
The metropolis successfully spent 84.55% of its budget allocated for recurrent expenditure in 2023/24. Out of Rs 1.38 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure, the metropolis spent Rs 1.38 billion rupees, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rajendra Parajuli.
Recurrent expenditure refers to regular expenditures like the salary of employees and other administrative works, while capital expenditure is expenses made on development projects like road and bridge construction.
Likewise, the metropolis spent Rs 47.3 million out of Rs 50 million earmarked for financial management.
Overall, the metropolis spent 75% of its total budget allocated for 2023/24. Budget expenditure progress was only 64% in 2022/23.
The metropolis has allocated Rs 3.36 billion for 2023/24 which ends on July 15. Out of the total allocation, Rs 2.52 billion has been spent, according to Sanjeev Bhattarai, chief of the Accounts Department of Biratnagar Metropolitan City.
The metropolis has proposed to spend Rs 3.49 billion in fiscal year 2024/25.
