PM Karki Directs Officials to Seek Alternatives for Kathmandu-Terai Expressway Start Point Amidst Dispute

Kathmandu. Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed that the alternative plan be pursued while setting aside the dispute over the starting point of the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhes Expressway at Khokana.

In the context of concerns being raised by the local community in Khokana, Lalitpur, citing potential impact on religious-cultural heritage and faith, Prime Minister Karki gave the directive for moving forward with an alternative plan during a discussion at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today.

Earlier, on Magh 13, Prime Minister Karki had also inspected the expressway under construction. During that visit, she had stated that local concerns must be taken seriously while carrying out development works. Furthermore, she had emphasized the need to expedite the completion of this national pride project, even if it meant changing the starting point.

Today, Prime Minister Karki held discussions with Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Madhav Chaulagai, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, along with officials related to the Expressway Project and secretaries from relevant ministries.

During this session, the Nepali Army briefed on the progress made so far in the project, the existing problems, and expectations from the government. Keeping officials from all relevant bodies present, she urged against unnecessary delays in development works and advised against getting stuck in disputes.

"Unnecessary delays should not occur in development works. The solution should be to resolve the dispute as much as possible. But if a dispute arises, one should not remain stuck there indefinitely. Alternatives must be sought to move forward," said Prime Minister Karki. "Let's revise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) now. If the starting point is not Khokana, let's establish the starting point wherever an agreement is reached. Let's operate the project work as far as it is completed."

Her view was that if a large investment project is prolonged indefinitely, the financial burden could become difficult to bear, necessitating a resolution for early operation. Now, as per her directive, the DPR will be amended to construct the toll plaza (fee collection center) at Pharsidole, 3.3 kilometers below Khokana.