KATHMANDU: Construction of the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track has picked up speed in recent months. The national pride project had seen slow progress for several years.
The project started in 2017 with a six-year completion target. Average annual progress stayed near 5 percent for years. In the first six months of the current fiscal year, progress increased by 3.03 percent.
The Nepal Army said overall physical progress has reached 45.16 percent as of mid-January 2026. This was 42.13 percent by mid-July 2025.
The fast track is 70.97 kilometers long. It is divided into 11 construction packages. Work is ongoing in 10 packages. The Khokana-Dukuchhap starting section is still without a contract due to local disputes.
According to the Army, bridges, tunnels, roads, interchanges, toll plazas, and drainage works are being built together. Tunnel and bridge works are moving faster. Progress is expected to rise after their completion.
Financial progress has reached 45.33 percent. Total spending has crossed Rs 82.97 billion so far. The revised project cost now stands at Rs 211.93 billion.
13 bridges completed
The fast track includes 89 bridges with a total length of 12.88 kilometers. Contracts have been awarded for 85 bridges.
Out of these, 13 bridges are fully completed. A special 82-meter-high bridge at Lendanda is also finished. Foundation work is complete on 54 bridges. Substructure work is done on 34 bridges.
5 km service lane blacktopped
Blacktopping work has begun on the project. Five kilometers of service lane have been paved so far. This is in the Rajdamah area of Makwanpur.
Sub-base work is complete on 11 kilometers of road. Main road blacktopping is planned to start soon in selected sections.
Animal underpasses, toll plazas, and interchanges are under construction in Nijgadh. Rest areas are planned at Budune. Interchanges and toll plazas will be built at Khokana, Budune, and Nijgadh.
Tunnel works ongoing
Seven tunnels with a total length of 10.98 kilometers are planned. Two tunnels have achieved breakthrough so far.
Lendanda and Dhedre tunnels are now in lining work. Mahadevtar tunnel is more than 69 percent complete. Breakthrough is targeted within this fiscal year.
Work has also started on Chandramabhir, Devichaur, Sisautar, and Mauribhir tunnels.
Dispute at starting point
Work at the Khokana starting point is still blocked. Locals are demanding that the starting point be shifted to Dukuchhap.
The Defense Ministry is coordinating discussions. The final decision rests with the government.
The project is now scheduled for completion by mid-April 2027. However, officials admit the target is challenging. More than half the work remains.
Once completed, travel time between Kathmandu and the Tarai will reduce by about four hours. Annual savings in goods transport are estimated to exceed Rs 50 billion.
