Kathmandu. Kathmandu: The Ministry of Defence has identified the ‘starting point determination and land acquisition’ as the main problems of the Kathmandu Tarai-Madhes Fast Track project, a project of national pride of the country which is moving ahead under the management of the Nepal Army.

In today’s meeting of the Ministry’s Fourth Quarter Progress Review and Ministry-level Development Problem Resolution Committee for the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, it was informed that a decision regarding the starting point of the fast track and the management of vehicular movement was yet to be taken due to the problems related to land acquisition in Khokana area.

According to the ministry’s progress review report, “Package No. 11, which is located up to 6.5 km from the departure point of the fast track, has problems related to land acquisition and the process of the section could not be forwarded due to lack of decision regarding the departure point and vehicular movement.” The project had achieved an annual target of 67.5 per cent in the physical sector in that fiscal year.

According to the Ministry, the procurement and construction work of the section is being affected as a decision in this regard is yet to be taken. However, a detailed feasibility study has been conducted on the starting point of the expressway and the management of vehicular movement and a report has already been submitted. The Ministry is of the view that a decision should be taken on the issue of starting point and traffic management as soon as possible.

The Ministry has clarified that financial and geographical progress could not be achieved as per the target due to geographical changes in some places due to excessive rainfall last year and new studies and ‘designs’ had to be done and not enough skilled manpower was not deployed from the builders.

On the occasion, Minister for Defence Manbir Rai said that more efforts need to be made to complete the construction of the fast track within the target time.

“The progress of the project in the fiscal year 2081/82 is only 67 per cent as compared to the previous year’s target. I would like to draw the special attention of the concerned project chiefs, the chiefs of the programme-running bodies and other coordinating bodies towards this. ’

Minister Rai stressed the need for joint efforts and initiatives of all as the delay in the project would not only increase the cost but also deprive the present generation of people from enjoying its results.

The 70.977 km long project, which is the departure point of Khokana area of Lalitpur and Nijgadh of Bara, has achieved 42.13 percent overall progress and financial progress of 44 percent so far. The project, which currently employs around 2,082 people per day, is expected to be completed by mid-March 2083 BS at a cost of Rs 211.93 billion.

National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Dr Shivaraj Adhikari stressed the need for greater awareness in the selection and determination of projects of national pride and priority.

Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel stressed the need to remove the delays and shortcomings seen in carrying out the projects and programmes. Secretary at the Ministry, Rameshwor Dangal, said that there was a need to intensify the action plan and monitoring with the promise of not repeating the physical progress and capital expenditure as set in the coming days.

Chairman of the National Defence University Infrastructure Development Construction Committee, Balananda Sharma, said that the construction of laws, physical infrastructure and curriculum for the university was progressing fast.

In the meeting, representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport said that the work done by the Army to facilitate the movement of people by installing bailey bridges in Humla, Sunkoshi and Mahakali immediately was commendable and suggested to complete the construction of the fast track as expected by all the countrymen.

In the review, discussions were held on the main tasks carried out by the ministries and agencies, the details of budget and expenditure, the status of the implementation of national pride and priority programs, the details of employment of non-military personnel, the programs run by the army, the participation of the Nepali Army in the peacekeeping force and the settlement of arrears.

According to the data, 95.94 percent of the total budget allocated for the ministry and subordinate bodies has been spent in that fiscal year. Of this, 99.8 per cent progress has been made in current and 59.71 per cent in capital. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff Sigdel signed an annual performance agreement with Minister Rai and Secretary Dangal.