July 26: The completion of the Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway (Fast Track) project within the deadline remains doubtful. Stakeholders have said that the basis for the completion of the project within December 2024 is not achievable.

They argue that the contract management of the 72.5 km long expressway undertaken by the Nepalese Army has been delayed.

During a discussion held at the Development and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, lawmakers expressed doubts about the completion of the expressway on time.

They expressed doubt stating that the contract management has not been done as per the first phase of the work schedule for fiscal year 2021/22 while there has been problems in acquisition of land in Khokana

However, the army has claimed that the project will be completed by December 2024.

Defense Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma expressed his commitment that the work will be completed on time. He has sought help from the committee to acquire 427 ropanis of lands in Khokna, which is the starting point of the expressway.

Chairperson of the committee, Kalyani Kumari Khadka, said that although the progress of the last fiscal year was encouraging, the overall progress of the project was slow. She said that even after five years since handing over the project to the army, the progress has been slow.

"There is no credibility that the expressway will be completed by December 2024. Even if the stakeholders claim it is possible, the schedule shows a solid foundation has not been built," she said.

She added that the government has been suggested to make special arrangements for the national pride project compared to other projects, but the government has not shown any interest to address this issue.

Khadka instructed all concerned parties to take immediate steps to make a solid schedule for the current fiscal year to complete the project on time.

During the discussion, CPN-UML MP Ganesh Pahadi said that the contract management should have been completed according to last year's schedule, but it has not been completed yet. He suggested that a third party should be formed separately to monitor the expressway. He said that there is a risk that the cost will increase due to the delay in contract management.

Similarly, another MP from UML, Padma Kumari Aryal, sarcastically said that there will come a day when the expressway will be called a 'slow track.

Democratic Samajwadi Party MP Anil Kumar Jha said that despite handing over the expressway to the army, the work has not been done as expected.