Kathmandu-Terai Expressway Project Faces Delays Amidst Weak Government Decision-Making

Kathmandu. The construction of the national pride project, the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhes Expressway (Fast Track), appears unlikely to be completed on schedule due to the government's weak decision-making capacity in the construction process. Despite eight and a half years passing, the overall physical progress of the project is limited to just 45 percent.

The Nepal Army stated that as of the end of Poush, 2082/83, the physical progress reached 45.15 percent and financial progress reached 45.33 percent. Compared to the end of Poush, 2081/82, which had 37.60 percent physical progress and 39.56 percent financial progress, this shows a physical progress of 7.55 percent over the last year.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport formally handed over the construction responsibility to the Nepal Army on July 12, 2017 (Shrawan 27, 2074 BS), with a target completion time of four years. As it could not be completed in that period, the deadline was extended for the first time until 2080 BS. After failing to complete it in that extended period, the deadline was extended for a second time, setting a target for completion by the end of Chaitra, 2083 BS. Based on the current physical progress, it seems unlikely that construction will be finished even by this revised deadline.

This failure to complete construction on schedule is increasing costs, thereby burdening the state. The project was initially supposed to cost NPR 175.19 billion according to the initial cost estimate. However, due to delays, the cost increased by 20.95 percent to NPR 211.93 billion after the second deadline extension. The Army reported that NPR 82.97 billion has been spent so far.

Khokana Section: A Serious Example of Government Failure

The government has failed to resolve land acquisition disputes in the Khokana-Dukuchhap section, which falls under Package Number 11 of the Expressway, for the past eight and a half years. Because of this, decisions regarding the starting point of the Expressway and traffic management have not been made, and the procurement process for this crucial section has not even begun.

The total length of the 7 tunnels under the project is 10.979 kilometers. Among these, the Mahadevtara Tunnel is 3,355 meters long, with the right tube being 3,322 meters and the left tube being 3,386 meters. Of this, the excavation work for the right tube is 2,119 meters, or 64 percent complete. Similarly, 2,500 meters, or 74 percent, of the left tube excavation is finished.

According to the progress report provided by the Army, the land yet to be acquired in the Khokana-Bungmati area as per the DPR includes 136-1-2-1 Ropani of private land for which valuation has been done, 14-13-0-3 Ropani of Guthi land, and 165-6-0-3 Ropani of land awaiting valuation. The inability of political and administrative levels to resolve this dispute immediately has seriously affected the remaining work on the project.

It has been stated that coordination is underway with relevant parties for the compensation distribution of the said lands. Furthermore, alternatives are being studied to resolve the land acquisition issues.

Land acquisition has been completed and construction is ongoing for the section of the Expressway spanning from 24.8 kilometers to 70.977 kilometers. For the section from 6.5 kilometers to 24.8 kilometers, which requires land for tunnels, slope protection, and river training works, the acquisition of various numbered lands has been approved by the government and is currently in the valuation phase, the Army reported.

In Kathmandu district, valuation has been completed for compensation regarding additional required numbered land measuring 128-2-0-2.55 Ropani and physical structures built on various lands for the construction of tunnels and slope stabilization structures. The notice has been published through the District Administration Office.

Land acquisition is in progress for an additional 54-11-3-1.82 Ropani of numbered land in Lalitpur district and 28-15-3-1.19 Ropani in Makwanpur district for the construction of tunnels and slope stabilization structures.

Out of the 13 packages under the overall work plan of the Expressway, packages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8(A), 8(B), 9(A), 9(B), and 10 are currently under construction.

Progress of Each Tunnel?

The total length of the 7 tunnels under this project is 10,979 kilometers. Among these, the Mahadevtara Tunnel is 3,355 meters long, with the right tube being 3,322 meters and the left tube being 3,386 meters. Of this, the excavation work for the right tube is 2,119 meters, or 64 percent complete. Similarly, 2,500 meters, or 74 percent, of the left tube excavation is finished.

The second Dhedre Tunnel is 1,690 meters long, with the right tube being 1,653 meters and the left tube being 1,728 meters. This tunnel has been breakthrough. Likewise, both tubes of the third Lendanda Tunnel, which is 1,622 meters long (right tube 1,612 meters and left tube 1,633 meters), have achieved breakthrough.

Furthermore, for the Chandram Bhir Tunnel, the right tube (2,261 meters) has completed 287 meters of excavation, and the left tube (2,213 meters) has completed 375 meters of excavation, according to the report. For the Devichaur Tunnel (1100 meters total), the portal excavation for the right tube has just begun, and 8 meters of excavation has been completed for the left tube (1075 meters).

Similarly, for the Sisautar Tunnel, 7 meters of excavation has been completed for the right tube (total 480 meters), while the portal excavation for the left tube (560 meters) is ongoing. The Army reported that portal work is underway for both the right tube (535 meters) and the left tube (663 meters) of the Mauri Bhir Tunnel.

How much bridge and road construction is complete?

Out of 89 bridges under this project, contracts for 85 bridges have been managed and are under implementation. There are land acquisition issues for the remaining 4 bridges. Among the bridges under construction, the foundation for 54 bridges and the substructure for 34 bridges have been completed. Construction of 13 bridges, including special types up to 82 meters in height, has been completed to date.

In road construction, sub-base work for 11 kilometers of road and blacktopping for 5 kilometers of the service lane have been completed. Construction work is ongoing for structures such as slope protection boxes, culverts, optical fiber ducts, and electrification accessory ducts at various locations.

Furthermore, the superstructure work for an animal underpass in the Nijgadh area is underway. Toll plaza and interchange construction is also ongoing in the Nijgadh area. So far, 54,151 trees have been felled for the Fast Track.

Progress of Other Projects?

The Army is expanding and constructing other strategic roads besides the Fast Track. This includes the Karnali Corridor (Lalibagar-Dullikuna, Ghatparichaur-Badri Gaun-Bhukkakhola section) road project, totaling 922.05 kilometers. By the end of the fiscal year 2081/82, a total of 16 kilometers of new track construction was completed. As of the end of Poush, 2082/83, an additional 0.440 kilometers of track upgrading and 0.240 kilometers of new track construction have been completed, bringing the total new track construction to 16.24 kilometers.

The Benighat-Arughat-Larkebhanjyang road project (92 kilometers) had a total of 40 kilometers of new track construction completed by the end of the last fiscal year 2081/82. As of the end of Poush, 2082/83, an additional 0.400 kilometers of track upgrading and 0.800 kilometers of new track construction have been completed, resulting in a total of 40.8 kilometers of new track construction.

The North-South Koshi Road Khandbari-Kimathanka (Chyamthang-Ghongghappa section) road project (10.51 kilometers) achieved breakthrough for the entire 10.51 kilometers of new track construction by the end of the last fiscal year 2081/82. As of the end of Poush, 2082/83, an additional 2.7 kilometers of track upgrading and 1.61 kilometers of remaining track upgrading work, totaling 4.31 kilometers, will be completed by the responsibility assigned to the Nepal Army (10.51 kilometers) by the end of Chaitra.

Similarly, for the Darchula-Tinkar road project (79 kilometers), a total of 17.5 kilometers of new track construction was completed by the end of the last fiscal year 2081/82. As of the end of Poush, 2082/83, an additional 0.590 kilometers of track upgrading and 0.990 kilometers of new track construction have been completed, bringing the total new track construction to 18.49 kilometers.