The Kathmandu-Tarai expressway project has achieved 37.6 percent physical progress and 39.56 percent financial progress, with a total expenditure of Rs72.41 billion, as reported by the Nepal Army during an on-site inspection by President Ramachandra Paudel on Friday.

President Paudel visited the completed tunnels at Lendanda, Dhedre, and Mahadevtar in wards 11 and 12 of Bakaiya Rural Municipality in Makawanpur. He urged authorities to expedite the project’s completion, underscoring its potential to ease public life.

“This project, if completed on time, will significantly enhance daily life for the general public,” President Paudel said.

The Nepal Army reported that the project includes seven tunnels, spanning a combined length of 10.979 kilometres. Among these, the 1,612-metre tunnel at Lendanda and the 1,728-metre tunnel at Dhedre are complete. More than 65 percent of the Mahadevtar tunnel has been finished.

Other tunnels under construction include a one-kilometre tunnel at Devichaur, a 390-metre tunnel at Sisautar, and a 2,250-metre tunnel at Chandram Bhir, all in the design phase after procurement agreements were signed. A Cabinet meeting on October 21 approved the procurement process for the 583-metre tunnel at Mauri Bhir.

The national project will feature the construction of 89 modern bridges, with procurement agreements for 85 done. Bridge construction at Lendanda and Dhedre is in its final stages, while five state-of-the-art bridges have been completed in the Rajdamar area of Makawanpur. Additionally, bridges ranging in height up to 81 metres are under construction, with ongoing work on foundations, substructures, and superstructures at various locations.

The Nepal Army stated that the project requires 17,651 ropanis (897.96 hectares) of land, including 5,487 ropanis (278.19 hectares) of private land. Notices have been published to acquire 5,204 ropanis (264.83 hectares) of private land, and 4,818 ropanis (244.67 hectares) have already been acquired.

Acquisition of 388 ropani (19.7 hectares) is still pending, with the valuation of 203 ropani (10.3 hectares) in the Khokana-Bungmati section of Lalitpur completed, but compensation distribution is yet to occur. Due to disputes, progress in this area has stalled.

The project has felled 36,179 trees of various species as part of environmental compensation. In response, 705,552 saplings have been planted so far.

The Kathmandu-Tarai expressway, which connects Kathmandu to Nijgadh in southern Nepal, will reduce travel time drastically once completed.

The government formally handed over the project to the Nepal Army on May 4, 2017. Construction began in August 2017, with an initial four-year target for completion. The deadline has since been extended to mid-April 2027.