Nepal Army shifts course of fast track to preserve historical Khokana

KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Nepal Army has changed the course of Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track in Khokana and Mahadevtar-Lendanda area with an aim to preserve the culturally and historically significant Sikali Temple in Khokana and Kodesh area located in Karyabinayak of Lalitpur district.

The locals of Khokana have been protesting demanding the preservation of the antique settlement.

With the change, the length of the fast track has been reduced to 72.5 km from 76.2 kilometers, informed Nepal Army in a press conference on Wednesday.

The army will also add extra tunnels along Mahadevtari-Lendanda section of the express highway. Earlier, Donor Asian Development Bank had proposed to construct a 1.37 km tunnel there.

According to the revised DPR, which was approved by a cabinet meeting on August 19, the cost of the national pride project will be Rs 175 billion. Only eight percent of the task has been completed so far.