Directive committee to fix purchasing price of fast track's DPR

Kathmandu - A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Friday has decided to allocate the responsibly of deciding the purchasing price of the detailed project report (DPR) of Nijgadh-Kathmandu fast track project prepared by Indian Company IL&FS to the Directive Committee after studying the report's utility. 

The construction of much-awaited Kathmandu-Tarai (Madhes) Fast Track Road Project was handed to the Nepalese Army (NA) through the Cabinet decision on May 4, 2017. The deadline for completing the project is four years from that time. 

The NA has formed a high level project implementation directive committee under the convenorship of NA lieutenant general Purna Chandra Thapa where representatives of Ministries of Finance; and Physical Infrastructure and Transport are the members. 

Minister for Finance Gyanendra Bahadur Karki shared that the Cabinet meeting decided to allocate the responsibly of fixing price of the DPR to the committee. Earlier, the government had formed a high-level committee in order to give suggestions on ideal modality and financial source management for the project under the then vice chair of the National Planning Commission, Min Bahadur Shrestha. 

Though the construction of 76.2 kilometers road stretching from Khokana of Lalitpur to Nijgadh of Bara was handed to the Nepalese Army five months ago, no significant progress yet in the absence of the DPR. 

Prime Minister Deuba recently instructed the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Chief Secretary, Army Chief and the authorities concerned to take a final decision regarding fast track's DPR and speed up the construction. 

Earlier, the government had formed a team to study about the project DPR under the convenorship of infrastructure expert Birendra Bahadur Deuja and it had already submitted the report to the directive committee. 

The NA has currently set up its camps at Makkhubesi, Kulekhani, Lendanda, Budune and Bagdev in course of undertaking the construction works while the compensation distribution is taking place at Chhaimale, Sokhel, Pharping, Bhimsensthan, Ghuskhelam and Saibu.