March 9: After decades of construction of road infrastructure, the first expressway (fast track) announced by the government is under construction. Apart from this, announcement for the construction of four more expressways has announced in the budget of the current fiscal year.

The four fast tracks announced in the budget are Chandragiri-Chitlang-Palung-Chitwan Expressway, Chitwan-Rampur-Butwal Expressway, Chitwan-Rampur-Pokhara Expressway and Mirchaiya-Lukla-Sagarmatha Expressway.

In the first phase, the Investment Board of Nepal has started a feasibility study to develop the Chandragiri-Chitlang-Palung-Chitwan fast track. The government announced the construction of this fast track so that Chitwan can be accessed from Kathmandu in 1 hour.

Although the Kathmandu-Terai fast track is being built by the government itself, the board carried out a feasibility study in accordance with the strategy of bringing the private sector as an investor in future fast track projects. An official of the board informed that the study report of this expressway will be prepared within 1 month. The report will confirm if the construction of this highway is possible or not. The official said that the study will be done this year and the work will commence next year.

According to him, the study of other three fast tracks announced by the government has not been planned yet. The government has said that the Chitwan-Rampur-Butwal and Chitwan-Rampur-Pokhara fast tracks will be built in the second phase. It is mentioned in the budget that the Mirchaiya-Lukla-Sagarmatha fast track will connect the plains, hills and mountains and help in tourism promotion. However, some infrastructural experts have suggest the government to build fast tracks based on needs rather than for the sake of announcements.

Former secretary and infrastructure expert Tulsi Sitaula says that the government should not ignore the fact that road expansion can adversely affect renowned trekking routes.

“Duplication is seen in the infrastructure built by the government. It should not be repeated. Chitwan-Rampur-Pokhara fast track and Chitwan-Rampur-Butwal fast track do not seem to be practical because there are other subsidiary highways in good condition to reach Mahendra Highway,” he said.

Sitaula said that the Mirchaiya-Lukla-Sagarmata fast track is necessary but argued that the fast track should not be constructed up to the Lukla-Sangboche trekking route.

He suggested building fast track so that the trekking route is not destroyed.