The government has already sanctioned an initial amount of Rs 10 million to the NA for the purpose. The government has earmarked Rs 250 million for the project this year.
The NA has held preliminary discussion with stakeholders concerned to pursue the project and will make a filed visit to the site soon. "Once the alignment of the route is completed from our side, the project will move ahead at full speed," said NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri.
The initial mapping of the project was completed by the Department of Roads. The NA will now have to do a ground survey to be undertaken by its technical team. The NA has recently conducted an air surveillance of the site. "We will deploy troops within a month and undertake the technical work, following which the foundation would be laid and the work would begin," Chhetri added.
As per the Terms of Reference (TOR) signed last month for the construction, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works will take the responsibility of land acquisition, fencing, preparing a general map and monitoring the construction, and the NA will prepare a detailed map and open the track. The fast-track is expected to highly reduce the travel time between Kathmandu and the Tarai and boost economic activities. The track is expected to be completed within two years.
Meanwhile, the NA stated that the 65-km Besisahar-Chame Road Project would be completed within the current fiscal year. Of the total length, the construction of 55-km gravel road has been completed and the construction of the remaining 10-km section will begin after Tihar, according to Chhetri, who also heads the Department of Public Relations of the NA.
The project is being constructed at a total cost of Rs 1.05 billion. The project was launched 15 years ago by the Department of Roads and handed over to NA eight years ago.
Earlier, the construction work faced hindrances due to obstructions created by the locals Dharapani VDC-1 of Manang and Tandring VDC of Lamjung, demanding different facilities for them. "There is no obstruction at present. So we will go ahead with the project," Chhetri added.
akanshya@myrepublica.com
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