Two link roads for Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track proposed

KATHMANDU, APR 17: The government has started preparations to construct link roads for establishing connection of the proposed Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track road with Kathmandu Valley’s road network. In this regard, two links have been proposed by Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Road Project.

As per the proposal submitted to Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), one link connects Khokana with Arch Bridge area of Jal Binayak, Chobar and another connects Khokana with Dakshinkali Road close to old factory site of Himal Cement, where government plans to construct container freight station and international exhibition centre.

Khokana is the starting point of the 76 km Fast Track road, which will connect the Capital with Tarai within a drive of one-and-a-half hours.

“We found the two links to be short and cost effective,” said Satyandra Shakya, chief of Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Road Project. He added that MoPIT would take needful decision regarding the issue.

Khokana-Jal Binayak link will be 600 to 700 metres long, while Khokana-Dakshinkali road will be around 300 metres.

Originally, the government had planned of linking the expressway to outer ring road in Khokana. But, after the work on outer ring road was stalled for years following political objection, alternatives were explored, according to MoPIT.

Earlier, MoPIT had also considered constructing roads from Khokana to Harisiddhi, Satungal and Nakkhu area.

However, the plan could not move ahead amid complications in acquiring land for 6.5 km section of main expressway in Khokana.

Though discussion for fixing compensation for Khokana land has already started, government is yet to acquire land and open track there.

Shakya said they are holding consultations with other projects like the one related to transmission lines to know the price it paid and municipality office for determining the compensation rate.

As assigned by the government, Nepal Army had completed track opening for around 70 km stretch of the Fast Track road between Chalnakhel, Lalitpur to Nijgadh, Bara two years ago.

The issue of Fast Track road and Second International Airport (SIA) planned in Nijgadh have received huge precedence in recent times.

This is in wake of the country being isolated from the world for four days after an aircraft of Turkish Airlines skidded off the runway while landing in Tribhuvan International Airport in March.

Besides connecting Capital with Tarai, Fast Track road would also complement construction of SIA.