Engineering practice in Nepal

Engineering practice in Nepal means the work of registered engineers in design, construction, supervision, operation and research, within the framework of the NEC Act 2055 and related laws.

Fields and sectors

• Public sector: Department of Roads, Department of Irrigation, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Water Supply departments, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Telecom, and now provincial and local governments after federalism.
• Private sector: consulting firms (design and supervision), contractors, hydropower developers, real-estate and IT companies.
• Others: teaching and research, INGOs/donor projects, and employment abroad.

Features

• Practice requires NEC registration (in the General Engineer and Professional Engineer categories, with temporary registration for foreign engineers), and consulting firms and contractors must be registered with the relevant authorities.
• Public works are procured under the Public Procurement Act 2063, through e-bidding.
• Building design must follow the National Building Code and the Building Act 2055.

Problems

Low consultancy fees and lowest-bid contracting, project delays and cost overruns, weak enforcement of ethics, political pressure, poor quality and brain drain.

Opportunities

Hydropower, roads, urbanisation, reconstruction, and the growing IT sector.