Kathmandu, November 21
Minister for Physical Planning, Infrastructure and Transport, Ramesh Lekhak, said on Monday that survey work of the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway Project is going on. Minister Lekhak said he is introducing a special action plan to address the problem of traffic congestion in the Kathmandu Valley.
Lekhak, speaking at a face-to-face that Reporters’ Club Nepal had organised, said: There’s a need to initiate survey works for the construction of flyovers and Metro Rail in Kathmandu. If possible, there’s a need to start the works with this fiscal’s budget. If that’s not possible, there’s a need to proceed with survey works in the next fiscal.
Minister Lekhak also talked of plans to fast-track the process of Postal Highway construction. The process of inviting tender for the construction of 24 roads connecting 15 out of 20 Tarai-Madhesh districts having total length of 701 km is currently underway, he said, pledging to expedite the development of these north-south roads.
He added that government will build 10 out of the 24 roads, which are part of the Postal Highway, with Indian assistance. Government will build the 14 other roads using its own resources. India will provide eight billion rupees as grant for development of the highway project which will require Rs 18 billion, he said.
Preparation of the DPR for the construction of the East-West Postal Highway having a total length of around 1,200 km is in final stage, Lekhak said. The second phase of the project will begin soon, Lekhak said.
Lekhak went on to claim that there is no longer any confusion regarding the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track. He said: I have made a special decision on Fast Track construction.
Lekhak said the Council of Ministers will take a final call on the matter.
The government of Nepal itself has made an important decision to develop the Fast Track on its own, he said, adding that it will be a public road. He pointed that the government has decided to constitute a seven-member parliamentary committee under National Planning Commission vice-chair to recommend whether the government itself should prepare the project’s DPR or employ other means for the same.
Lekhak informed that the government is also trying to open northern trade points as soon as possible.
He pointed that the government has decided to task Nepal Army with opening of tracks connecting northern border points with road networks. Lekhak pointed that he has already inspected the Larke Pass in Gorkha district, which is one of the points that connects Nepal and China.
Minister Lekhak said the national army should be entrusted with construction of tracks along treacherous terrain.
