Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track Momentum: 31% Progress

The Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track project is 31% complete with two tunnel breakthroughs projected by Jestha, in 2081. Till the end of Magh, 30.96% physical progress and 31.57% financial progress have been achieved. The project which connects Nijgadh, Bara with Kathmandu is one of the largest scale and pride projects of Nepal. Nepal Army is constructing it.  

Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh expressway stretches a total of 71 kilometers. Essentially, it radically speeds up the travel between Kathmandu and Terai- by 75 km. In the current route, the two points average a distance of around 145 km.

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Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track Road Project Progress:

The Expressway project consists of 4.6km of road in Kathmandu. Similarly, it covers 9 km in Lalitpur, 49.70 km in Makawanpur, and 7 km in Bara. The project consists of 13 construction packages. Of all, packages number 1 to 7 and 10 have been bought and are on the verge of implementation. Package 8 (ka), 8 (kha), and 9 (kha) are still entangled in controversy. Their case in the proceedings at Patan High Court.

Similarly, the issues relating to the determination of the starting point that lies at Khokana in package number 11, transport management in the area, and land acquisition for the project are yet to be resolved. Currently, 95% of the package implementation and purchase process is in effect, says Operation and Implementation Chief Indiwar Gurung.

Areas that are purchased for the project are seeing speedy works for tunnels and bridge construction. Currently, construction of three tunnels is underway which stretch a combined total of 6.415km. So far, 4.352 km or 67.43% of work has been completed.  

Credit: Radio Nepal Online

Project engineer Binayak Sharma expects the breakthrough of the Lanedada tunnel within Baisakh, in 2081. Likewise, Dhedre and Mahadev tunnelways could see their breakthrough by the end of Jestha next year. Sharma shared that per day an average of 3-meter tunnels is being dug.

Mahadeve tunnel is 3.355 kilometer long. So far, 1.948 km has been completed. Likewise, the Dhedre and Lanedada tunnels stretch 1.63 km and 1.43 km respectively. In the same order, the two tunnels are complete with 1.176 km and 1.204 km construction.

Also read: Podway recognized by the government: Kathmandu could see this string-based transport system in the next 1.5 years

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track Tunnels

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track project has 6 tunnels. All tunnels cover a distance of 10.55 km. In it, the Devichaur tunnel is 1 km long. Sishautar tunnel is 0.39 km, Chandram Bhir tunnel is 2.25 km long and Mahadevdada tunnel is 3.355 km long. Likewise, the Dhedre tunnel is 1.630 km and the Lenddada tunnel is 1.430 km long.  

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track Bridges

There are 89 bridges that combine 12.885 km. So far, 1.665 foundation piles of 2.802 piles that fall under the package no. 1 to 7 have been constructed.

The expressway’s width in hilly areas is 25 meters and in Terai areas, it’s 27 meters.

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track Total Land Use

The Fast Track will use a total of 15,416 ropani lands. Out of which, 10,244 ropani is government-owned land while 5,172 ropani is privately owned.  

As per the land acquisition notice, 4,777 ropani of the total 5,172 ropani privately-held land has been acquired while 395 ropani are yet to be bought. Khokana-Bungmati area’s 214 ropani land is yet to have its compensation distributed while  165 ropani land is yet to have its price determined. A total of 379 ropani land is yet to be acquired in this area.

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track Cutting and Planting of Trees

Cutting down the trees has remained one of the hottest debates for the project, however, stringent measures have been put in place to remedy the fallen trees. So far, for every tree cut down, 25 trees have been planted. RSS reports that the entire project will see the plantation of around 7.4 lakh trees, of which over 7.5 lakh trees have been planted.

The Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track project was handed over to the Nepal Army after a cabinet meeting on 2074 Baisakh 21. In 2074, Jestha 14, the then PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the construction of this benchmark project.

The then PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal laid the foundation stone for the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track project on Jestha 14, 2074.

Nepal Army plans to complete the project by 2083 Chaitra.  

The Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track starts at Khokana and ends in Nijgadh, at the East-West Highway Junction covering a total of 70.977 Km. It’s being built as per the Primary Class (Asian Highway Design Standard 1993). The project is estimated to cost Rs 211 billion after its amended DPR from August 2023.

Also read: Muktinath Cable Car Project DPR submitted to the Nepal Investment Board

The Kathmandu-Terami-Madhesh Fast Track FAQs

Build your knowledge with FAQ relating to the country’s hugely significant Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Fast Track.