KATHMANDU, July 31: Work on ‘Block 1’ of the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Fast Track project, which is being managed by the Nepal Army as a national pride initiative, has stalled. In response to this setback, Defense Minister Man Bahadur Rai has expressed his concerns and requested assistance from his Chinese counterpart.
The delays are attributed to a lack of progress from the Chinese contractor. To address the issue, Minister Rai first approached the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal and subsequently raised the matter with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, seeking support to expedite the construction.
During a sideline meeting at an event in Berlin, Germany, Minister Rai informed Minister Dong about the delays caused by the contractor and urged him to help facilitate the construction process.
While participating in the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin, Minister Rai briefed his counterpart about the contractor-related delays and requested intervention. “I informed my Chinese counterpart—who was also present in Berlin—about the delay caused by the Chinese contractor and asked for facilitation,” Minister Rai told Republica.
Fast track construction works moving ahead satisfactorily
It has been over two months since this request was made. Before that, he had met the Chinese Ambassador in Kathmandu and urged support in facilitating the work.
Despite receiving advance payments from the Nepal government, the Chinese contractor has repeatedly made excuses and failed to progress. This led Minister Rai to discuss the matter with the Chinese Ambassador, and when that proved ineffective, he raised it with the Chinese defense minister. Rai had visited Germany early May.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has also been showing concern over the expressway project. He has been holding discussions with stakeholders at his official residence. Currently, efforts are underway to resolve disputes regarding the project’s starting point. Discussions at the level of the PM have been initiated to settle the issue.
According to the Ministry of Defense, of the 89 bridges to be constructed under the project, work has begun on 85, with five bridges already completed. The procurement agreements for these bridges were signed after Minister Rai assumed office. He has now completed one year as Defense Minister.
According to the ministry’s overall work plan, procurement agreements have been signed for 12 of the 13 construction packages—specifically covering sections from 6.5 km to 70.977 km—namely, packages no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, and 10, which are currently under implementation.
Regarding Package No. 11, which covers the Khokana area where the expressway begins, preparations are underway to initiate procurement once issues related to alignment, traffic management, and land acquisition are resolved. PM Oli has held several rounds of discussions with Minister Rai and Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel on this matter. On Monday morning, Minister Rai visited Khokana to assess the ground reality.
Discussions on alignment and traffic management are being conducted based on recommendations from a study report prepared by the Research and Training Unit of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, under the Institute of Engineering. The Ministry of Defense is now working to identify a suitable alternative and move forward with implementation.
The total cost of the expressway project is Rs 211 billion. As of the end of Ashad 2082 (mid-July 2025), the project’s physical progress stands at 41.37 percent, while financial progress (including mobilization) has reached 42.74 percent. Out of the revised allocation of Rs 15.30 billion for the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, the ministry has already spent Rs 13.46 billion.
The project includes the construction of seven tunnels. According to the ministry, breakthroughs have been achieved in the Dhedre and Lendanda tunnels—located in Bakaiya and Gadhi rural municipalities of Makawanpur district—under Package No. 2. Construction of the remaining tunnels is currently underway.