Kathmandu, February 9: The Finance Ministry and the National Planning Commission (NPC) have vowed to ensure sufficient budget to Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway project.

At the meeting of the Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly on Wednesday, NPC Vice-Chairperson Dr Bishwanath Poudel viewed there would not be inadequacy of capital spending for the national pride project. He further reminded that expressway was forwarded for the transformation of country. So, the construction must be intensified in reliable predictability.

On the occasion, Committee Chairperson Ram Narayan Bidari stated that the expressway is not only the pride project of Defense Ministry, Nepali Army and contractors but of the entire nation. He pointed out the need for establishing a separate desk at Prime Minister’s Office to ensure financial resources and necessary cooperation.

Secretary of Defense Ministry Kiran Raj Sharma informed that the project was forwarded in 11 packages. So far, call for bidding on five packages was made. The completion of the expressway, being managed by the Nepali Army, is aimed before 2025. The cost of the project is Rs 175 billion.

The expressway links Khokana, Lalitpur to Nijgadh, Bara. There will be some 87 motorable bridges and three tunnels along the expressway. The Ministry and NPC suggested the timely completion of the project.