SATV, 24 Feb, Kathmandu: The Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes Fast Track (Expressway) project, one of the national pride projects undertaken by the Nepali Army, is likely to miss its deadline for completion by mid-April 2027.
Speaking at a press conference, project chief and Major General Kamal Bikram Shah said that various project hindrances and technical challenges, compounded by the monsoon mayhem in the last week of September 2024, are likely to push the project's deadline further.
According to the project office, the overall progress stands at 38.26 per cent physically and 39.84 per cent financially. On average, the project has been achieving an annual growth rate of 10 percentage points. The project’s total length is 70.977 km.
“Heavy monsoon rain from September 26 to 28, 2024, severely impacted the project site, particularly in the Makkhubesi and Makwanpur areas, where significant flooding was recorded in the river zone. As a result, project officials had to modify certain physical infrastructures, such as the height of the sky bridge constructed there,” said Shah in response to journalists’ questions.
“The geographical terrain of the project site has to be slightly changed due to floods and landslides, forcing modifications in the project's alignment and infrastructure, particularly the bridges and road sections,” he added.
Additionally, tree-cutting work at the project site remains incomplete, further delaying the progress. Although the government, under the tenure of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, handed over the project to the Nepali Army on May 4, 2017, actual construction work on the Fast Track began only on May 14, 2021, after finalising the Korean company designed DPR.
The project includes seven tunnels in the Makwanpur district alone, spanning a total of 10.09 km. However, breakthroughs have been achieved in only two tunnels so far. The Nepali Army is executing the project by dividing the work into 10 different packages, starting from Chobhar (designated as zero kilometre) to Bara (Nijgadh).
"Similarly, out of the total seven tunnels under the project, the breakthrough of two has been completed, while construction work is ongoing for two others, and design and preliminary preparation work is underway for the remaining three tunnels, according to the project official. However, despite the physical progress of this road project not meeting expectations due to various reasons, efforts are being made to complete the work according to the target," said Shah.
