Nepal must build, but it must build smarter

File: Construction works are underway for the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track. Having grown up in London, I took its infrastructure for granted. It was only after moving to Cardiff University that I began to appreciate it.

Although Cardiff was a developed city, it lacked the range of infrastructure I had become accustomed to in London. This contrast made me realise how deeply urban infrastructure shapes everyday life and highlighted the importance of balancing progress with resilience and sustainability, a theme I will explore throughout this essay. For example, I had completely taken the London Underground for granted.

Can you imagine being able to travel from the suburbs of London to Big Ben in just 30 minutes? Looking back, that was incredible. While I was in Cardiff, however, I witnessed considerable infrastructure development across Wales.