BIRATNAGAR: Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to invest Rs 3.25 billion for the overall development of Biratnagar. The amount to be invested in five different stages consists of 85 per cent donation and 15 per cent loan.

ADB will focus its investment mainly in drainage, the topmost problem of the city, maintenance of internal roads, construction of shopping complexes including others after preparing a master plan. Discussions on the issue with representatives of political parties, civil society members, and local authority was in the final stage. Speaking at a programme organized here yesterday, civil society members and local authority representatives called for increasing the income of the sub-metropolis and proper utilization of the investment. Biratnagar sub-metropolis executive officer Gopal Prasad Regmi said preparations are on to reach a conclusion after holding a meeting at the Ministry for Physical Planning and Works scheduled on November 20. Consultant Dr Radhe Sharan Pradhan said ADB has proposed to complete the construction of all the infrastructure within five years.