KATHMANDU: The government is set to initiate a bidding process for the construction of Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project from the coming fiscal 2018/19.

The government has stepped up its preparation to hire the contractor wiping out confusion over the modality of constructing the project, informed Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun.

At a programme organized at the Ministry on Tuesday, Minister Barshaman Pun said, "Necessary preparations are being made in a way to initiate the project construction process in the coming fiscal year".

It may be noted that the erstwhile government had decided to construct the project with the capacity of 1,200 MW with Nepali investment. The Nepali Congress-led government had also decided to provide grant of Rs 100 billion to the project to make it investment worthy. Total estimated investment of the project is Rs 273 billion.

On the occasion, Minister Pun expressed commitment that he would not make any decision to award the contract for the project construction to any foreign company or agency. The government has put the project in the list of national pride.