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Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway: Physical Progress Reaches 50.54 Percent After Nine Years MAKWANPUR: The Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway, a national pride project, has achieved 50.54 percent physical progress nine years after the commencement of construction. As of the end of Ashoj in the current fiscal year 2083/84, the project remains halfway to completion, with its deadline having been revised multiple times. According to Assistant Rathi and Information Officer of the Nepal Army, Rajaram Basnet, the project has recorded a financial progress of 52 percent, inclusive of mobilization costs. Construction activities, including tunnel excavation, bridge building, and road infrastructure development, are currently underway. Following a three-year extension, the project is now targeted for completion by Chaitra 2086. Regarding the starting point in Khokana, Lalitpur, officials stated that efforts are ongoing to find alternatives to resolve land disputes. Construction is proceeding in all other areas outside of the contested Khokana section. The project is divided into 13 construction packages, with packages 1 through 10 currently in the implementation phase. Package 11, covering the Khokana-Dukuchap section, faces land acquisition challenges, and the Nepal Army is coordinating with relevant stakeholders to address compensation issues. Tunnel and Bridge Construction The project involves the construction of seven tunnels with a total length of 11.2 kilometers. Significant progress has been made on several tunnels: Mahadevtara Tunnel (Package 1): The left tunnel (3,486 meters) is complete, while 3,342.7 meters of the 3,422-meter right tunnel have been excavated. Dhedre Tunnel (Package 2): The 1,653-meter right tunnel has been breakthrough. Lendanda Tunnel (Package 3): Both tunnels (1,612 meters and 1,633 meters) were breakthrough in Ashar. Other Tunnels: Excavation is ongoing for the Devichaur, Sisautar, and Chandrambhir tunnels, while portal construction is underway for the Mauribhir tunnel. Of the 89 planned bridges, 85 are currently under contract and in various stages of construction. To date, 57 bridge foundations, 40 substructures, and 17 superstructures have been completed. Road construction has also progressed, with 11.02 kilometers of sub-base, 5.8 kilometers of base, and one kilometer of blacktopping completed on the main road, alongside seven kilometers of blacktopped service lanes. Land Acquisition and Financial Status Land acquisition is largely complete for the 24.8 km to 70.977 km section. Additional acquisition processes are underway for the 6.5 km to 24.8 km section to accommodate tunnels and slope protection structures. Compensation distribution is ongoing for affected land in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Makwanpur districts. The total length of the expressway, connecting Khokana to Nijgadh, is 70.977 kilometers. Initially estimated at NPR 175 billion, the project cost has risen to NPR 211.93 billion, including contingency funds. As of the end of Ashoj 2083, NPR 95.17 billion has been spent. The construction is being carried out by six Chinese firms in collaboration with Nepali contractors. Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between the Terai and Kathmandu by approximately four hours, with an estimated annual saving of over NPR 50 billion in transportation costs. Article source: Gorkhapatra National Daily | Image credit: Gorkhapatra National Daily
Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway: Physical Progress Reaches 50.54 Percent After Nine Years MAKWANPUR: The Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway, a national pride project, has achieved 50.54 percent physical progress nine years after the commencement of construction. As of the end of Ashoj in the current fiscal year 2083/84, the project remains halfway to completion, with its deadline having been revised multiple times. According to Assistant Rathi and Information Officer of the Nepal Army, Rajaram Basnet, the project has recorded a financial progress of 52 percent, inclusive of mobilization costs. Construction activities, including tunnel excavation, bridge building, and road infrastructure development, are currently underway. Following a three-year extension, the project is now targeted for completion by Chaitra 2086. Regarding the starting point in Khokana, Lalitpur, officials stated that efforts are ongoing to find alternatives to resolve land disputes. Construction is proceeding in all other areas outside of the contested Khokana section. The project is divided into 13 construction packages, with packages 1 through 10 currently in the implementation phase. Package 11, covering the Khokana-Dukuchap section, faces land acquisition challenges, and the Nepal Army is coordinating with relevant stakeholders to address compensation issues. Tunnel and Bridge Construction The project involves the construction of seven tunnels with a total length of 11.2 kilometers. Significant progress has been made on several tunnels: Mahadevtara Tunnel (Package 1): The left tunnel (3,486 meters) is complete, while 3,342.7 meters of the 3,422-meter right tunnel have been excavated. Dhedre Tunnel (Package 2): The 1,653-meter right tunnel has been breakthrough. Lendanda Tunnel (Package 3): Both tunnels (1,612 meters and 1,633 meters) were breakthrough in Ashar. Other Tunnels: Excavation is ongoing for the Devichaur, Sisautar, and Chandrambhir tunnels, while portal construction is underway for the Mauribhir tunnel. Of the 89 planned bridges, 85 are currently under contract and in various stages of construction. To date, 57 bridge foundations, 40 substructures, and 17 superstructures have been completed. Road construction has also progressed, with 11.02 kilometers of sub-base, 5.8 kilometers of base, and one kilometer of blacktopping completed on the main road, alongside seven kilometers of blacktopped service lanes. Land Acquisition and Financial Status Land acquisition is largely complete for the 24.8 km to 70.977 km section. Additional acquisition processes are underway for the 6.5 km to 24.8 km section to accommodate tunnels and slope protection structures. Compensation distribution is ongoing for affected land in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Makwanpur districts. The total length of the expressway, connecting Khokana to Nijgadh, is 70.977 kilometers. Initially estimated at NPR 175 billion, the project cost has risen to NPR 211.93 billion, including contingency funds. As of the end of Ashoj 2083, NPR 95.17 billion has been spent. The construction is being carried out by six Chinese firms in collaboration with Nepali contractors. Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time between the Terai and Kathmandu by approximately four hours, with an estimated annual saving of over NPR 50 billion in transportation costs.
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