November 12: The Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track has achieved 27.19 per cent physical progress and 29.32 per cent financial progress amidst various obstacles and challenges.

The national pride project is being implemented by the Nepalese Army (NA). Once the four-lane expressway completes, the southern plains can be reached within 2 hours 2 minutes from the Kathmandu Valley. The expressway goes from Khokana of Lalitpur to Makawanpur and reaches Nijgadh of Bara district.

The national pride project for which Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had laid the foundation stone on May 28, 2017 at Nijgadh is expected to be completed by mid-April, 2027.

The incumbent government on October 16 last year had approved the revised DPR of the Rs 211.93 billion project, according to which, the new length of the fast track is determined at 70.9-km, two km curtailed from the earlier one.

There are six tunnels measuring 10.055-kilometres in total along the track that will be built according to the Asian Highway standards. Two-wheelers will be barred from plying the track having altogether 89 bridges along the way.

Designs of 45 bridges have been completed from package no 1 to 5, according to the NA. NA's Colonel Bishwa Bandhu Pahadi reaffirmed the commitment for the timely completion of the project. "The Nepalese Army is determined to deliver the quality fast-track within the timeline," he reiterated.

At present, tall bridges and tunnels are being built at Mahadevtar, Dhedre and Lanedanda in Makawanpur district under the project being executed in a total of 13 packages.

Due to the fact that the DPR of the project was not approved on time, the fast-track suffered snail-pace construction in course of time. Land acquisition and environment impact assessment and clearance of trees among others further delayed the undertaking, the NA said. -- RSS