KATHMANDU: The government has announced plans to develop expressways, tourist highways, and a metro rail network as part of its infrastructure expansion program.
Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal said the government will build two expressways to improve connectivity between major cities. The planned expressways will aim to reduce travel time between Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Butwal to around two hours.
He said the tender process for the Butwal-Pokhara Expressway will begin in the next fiscal year. The study process for the Kathmandu-Pokhara Expressway will also be advanced.
The government also plans to construct eight tourist highways with a combined length of 3,000 km to connect major tourism destinations. The project is estimated to require an investment of around Rs 600 billion and will be completed within three years.
According to Minister Lamsal, six north-south and two east-west corridors have been selected for the tourist highway project. The north-south routes include Rani-Biratnagar-Kimathanka, Birgunj-Rasuwagadhi, Bhairahawa-Korla, Koilabas-Dolpa, Jamunah-Simkot, and Gaurifanta-Badimalika.
The government is also preparing plans to widen roads connecting district headquarters and implement a three-year road safety program.
In addition, the government is preparing a master plan for a 150-km metro rail network connecting Thankot in Kathmandu to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchok.
The minister said the Transportation Master Plan is under preparation and proposals will be invited for the DPR after the master plan is completed.
The earlier plan to develop a 27.5-km metro rail line inside the Kathmandu Valley has been delayed as the government prepares a new metro rail strategy. The proposed earlier route included Narayan Gopal Chowk, Chabahil, Koteshwor, Satdobato, Ratna Park, and Narayan Gopal Chowk.
