KATHMANDU: Construction of the 8.2-kilometer Kalanki-Basundhara section under the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project is expected to begin immediately after the Dashain-Tihar festive period.
Project Chief Ashika Pokharel said the Chinese side is preparing to move ahead with construction after completing the tender process in China once the final design is approved.
According to Pokharel, construction of the service lane outside the main expressway is currently being carried out through Nepal’s own resources and has reached around 80 percent completion. Only asphalt paving work remains in some sections.
The Chinese side has already submitted the preliminary design for the main expressway, and Nepal has provided necessary feedback and comments. The project is now at the stage of receiving the final design, she said.
“There is no fixed date for the start of construction, but we expect the project to enter the implementation phase after the monsoon and festive season,” Pokharel said.
She expressed confidence that construction would progress quickly as the tender process in China is comparatively shorter than in Nepal. She attributed previous delays mainly to delays in site clearance, including the removal of houses, structures, trees, and other obstacles.
The project was further delayed by around three to four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, adding that documentation, official correspondence, surveys, and design-related work have recently been moving forward continuously.
The initial estimated cost of the project was around Rs 12 billion. However, the cost is currently being revised due to inflation and improvements made to the design. The final cost will be determined after receiving the updated cost estimate along with the final design.
Pokharel said authorities are working to address potential challenges in advance by studying lessons from the first phase of the Ring Road project.
“During the implementation of the first phase, we identified several challenges. Therefore, we have already carried out extensive studies, technical preparations, and necessary correspondence to address those weaknesses,” she said.
The Chinese side has also committed to completing the construction within the stipulated timeframe, according to Pokharel.
She requested public patience, noting that residents may face temporary inconvenience during construction activities.
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