May 30: The government has pledged to expedite the expansion of the East-West Highway into four lanes.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat made such an announcement while presenting the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY) 2023/24 in a joint meeting of the federal parliament on Monday.

Finance Minister Mahat said that the expansion and upgrading task of Narayangadh-Butwal and Kamala-Kanchanpur section of the highway would be completed within the next fiscal year.    
Similarly, initiatives will be taken to start upgrading the Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya, Butwal-Gorusinge, Kakadvitta-Laukahi, Pathalaiya-Narayangadh and Lamahi-Bhalubang road sections.    
Signature bridges would be constructed over the Narayani river and Tinau river, he added. The finance minister shared that Rs 31.02 billion has been allocated for the expansion and upgrading of the East-West Highway.    
“The government would focus its investment in easy, safe, quality and sustainable transport infrastructures to facilitate citizen's life and to prepare the basis of economic development,” he said. -- RSS