KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Purna Bahadur Khadka, has emphasized the imperative of garnering comprehensive support and cooperation from all sectors to ensure the timely completion of the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track Project.
He underscored that the current government has accorded the highest priority to the project.
Recognizing the significance of this endeavor, a single session of the Council of Ministers convened to address multiple challenges impeding its progress, as reported by Khadka.
He advocated for a focused review aimed at evaluating legal impediments associated with the project and identifying strategies to overcome such hurdles.
It is noteworthy that the Fast Track Project has achieved a 25 percent advancement in terms of physical development, accompanied by financial progress of 28.11 percent.
The targeted completion date for the project is projected to be between March and April of 2027.
The execution of the project is being overseen by the Nepali Army, divided into 13 distinct packages.
The initial estimated budget, including VAT, stands at Rs 175.12 billion.
Presently, the evaluation of tender bids is underway for three packages, while two packages are undergoing the revision process for the Detailed Project Report.
The package associated with Khokana is facing delays due to issues surrounding land acquisition.
In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 22.50 billion for the project, with the overall expenditure thus far totaling Rs 49.23 billion.
Notably, the Ministry’s achievements in terms of fiscal targets for the previous year were recorded at 97.59 percent, coupled with a physical progress rate of 97.91 percent.
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