Voters Grill Candidates Over Delays in Key Kathmandu-Terai Expressway Construction

Bara. Voters are questioning candidates during their election canvassing regarding the delay in the construction of the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway, the shortest route connecting the Terai/Madhesh region to Kathmandu. Voters are raising concerns about why the project, which should have been completed two years ago, is still pending, questioning candidates seeking their votes.

Mahendra Prasad Yadav from Jamunia Tole, Suvarna Rural Municipality-3, Bara, complained that the expressway was not completed on time due to a lack of attention from leaders. He stated, 'If the Fast Track had been operational, travel would have been easier, but since the construction is still not finished, commuting to Kathmandu takes a long time.'

Once the expressway is completed and operational, it will be possible to reach Kathmandu from Nijgadh in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Furthermore, farmers in Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat are hopeful that their produce, including vegetables, fruits, pulses, oilseeds, and grains, will fetch better prices.

'If the expressway is built, it would be very convenient for us to take our produce to sell,' he said, 'Farmers would also get better prices.'

Lal Babu Yadav from Majhariya Tole, Suvarna Rural Municipality Ward No. 6, Bara, also accused leaders of being responsible for the expressway not being built for 7 years.

'What is the reason for the expressway being stuck for 7 years? Leaders in power must answer,' he said, 'Leaders have made the expressway a cash cow by using the Nepali Army as a pawn.'

The expressway spans a total distance of 70.977 kilometers from Nijgadh in Bara to Khokana in Lalitpur. Once this project is completed, the residents of Bara will benefit the most.

However, the government formally handed over the responsibility of constructing the project to the Army on Bhadra 27, 2074 BS, with a target completion time of 4 years. The deadline for the project, which was set to be completed in four years under the Army's responsibility, has already been extended twice, in 2077 BS and 2080 BS.

The second extended deadline expires at the end of Chaitra 2083 BS. However, the physical progress of the project is currently only about 46 percent. Voters say it is unfortunate that the project, even under the Army's charge, has seen repeated deadline extensions and is not being completed on time.

Ramashankar Kushwaha from Mainitole, Ward No. 2, Mahagadimai Municipality, stated that if the expressway is completed quickly, farmers will get fair prices for their potatoes, pulses, paddy, maize, and sugarcane. 'If the Fast Track were operational, our pulses, sugarcane, and potatoes would have reached Kathmandu today, and we would have earned good money,' Kushwaha said, 'It takes farmers 8/10 hours to carry vegetables to Kathmandu, and traders in Birgunj offer only 30 rupees for vegetables worth a hundred rupees.'

Vegetables, fruits, pulses, oilseeds, and food grains sold cheaply by Terai farmers are sold at exorbitant prices by the time they reach the kitchens of Kathmandu consumers.

Mahendra Prasad Yadav, the outgoing chief of Suvarna Rural Municipality, commented that although the expressway project is excellent for Madhesh, the construction work is delayed due to leaders. 'If the expressway runs, Madhesi people living near the Indian border can reach Kathmandu in 2 hours. We ourselves can take vegetables in the morning and return home in the evening,' said Rural Municipality Chief Yadav, 'Let the senior leaders understand the reason for the delay now.'

Rajesh Sah, the candidate for Janmat Party Bara-2 led by CK Raut, who was campaigning door-to-door, commented that the expressway is the economic backbone of Madhesh.

'Once the expressway is operational, there will be savings of billions in petroleum products annually, time will be saved, and the Nepali economy will benefit greatly,' candidate Sah said, 'But delaying the construction of this project means halting the pace of national development, which weakens the economy significantly.' He stated that if elected, he would raise this issue prominently.

The government is constructing the four-lane expressway according to Asian Highway design standards with an investment of 2 Kharba 11 Arab 93 Crore Rupees.

Bachha Raut Ahir, the Provincial Assembly member elected from Bara 2 (Kha), says the people of Madhesh are waiting with hope for this project to be completed quickly. Raut said, 'We are raising the issue in the assembly as well. But the federal government does not listen to the province.'

Although the residents of Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat will benefit once the expressway is operational, this project falls particularly within Constituency No. 1 of Bara. The project touches three districts across two provinces.

The starting point is fixed at Nijgadh Municipality in Bara, from where one can reach the capital Kathmandu via Makwanpur and Lalitpur districts heading north.

With less than two weeks remaining until the election date, candidates from Congress, UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), and RSP in Bara-1 have neither published their election manifestos nor said anything about the expressway.

When voters urged candidates during door-to-door visits to lobby the federal government for the speedy construction of the expressway, the candidates were largely unable to give concrete responses.

Shambhu Budhathoki, the Nepali Congress candidate for Bara-1, stated that ensuring the timely completion of the Terai-Madhesh Expressway will be included in his manifesto.

'In our manifesto, which we will publish in 1-2 days, we will include not only the expressway but also the issue of the international airport,' said Congress candidate Budhathoki, 'Our stance is that the expressway must be built within the extended deadline. Once this project is completed, Madhesh's produce can be taken directly to Kathmandu for sale.'

In Bara-1, there are over two dozen candidates, including Congress candidate Budhathoki, UML's Achyut Mainali, RSP candidate Ganesh Dhimal, and CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Santosh Dangal.

RSP candidate Ganesh Dhimal claimed that if elected, the government formed under his party's leadership would complete and operationalize the expressway within one and a half years, instead of the planned two years.

'If a government led by us is formed, we will complete the work scheduled for two years in one and a half years and operate the expressway,' candidate Dhimal said, 'We have not had the opportunity to study in detail how much work has been done so far and how much remains. Work will move forward once a government under Balen's leadership is formed.'

Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Santosh Dangal suggests that if the expressway can be connected to the Simraungadh customs point by making it an access road via the Postal Highway, Indian tourists can be attracted. He stated that he has included the expressway project in his election manifesto, which will be published in two days.

'Our view is that the expressway should be completed by the stipulated deadline, the end of Chaitra 2082 BS, but this is not possible,' he said, 'The Army will extend the deadline again.'

Outgoing Member of Parliament and UML candidate Achyut Mainali complained that although he repeatedly raised the issue of delays in the expressway construction in parliament, it went unheard.