Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Observes ‘Breakthrough’ of Ghattepakha-Dhedre Tunnel under Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway Project

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today marked a significant milestone in the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway (Fast Track) project by observing the ‘breakthrough’ of the Ghattepakha-Dhedre Tunnel. The Expressway project is considered a project of national pride and strategic importance.

The breakthrough ceremony for the 1.728-kilometer-long tunnel took place at Dhedre in Bakaiya Rural Municipality-12. This marks the completion of another major section, following the earlier completion of a 1.653-kilometer tunnel towards the Nijgadh-Kathmandu side. The Prime Minister activated a switch to symbolize the breakthrough of the tunnel.

Implemented by the Nepali Army, the project has reported 35.98 percent progress, as apprised by Chief of the Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma to the Prime Minister. The project is divided into 13 packages, and out of the 89 bridges to be constructed, 85 are at various stages of completion. However, progress on the remaining four bridges in the Khokana area of Lalitpur has been hampered due to land acquisition disputes.

In his address, Chief of the Army Staff Sharma highlighted the progress and challenges faced in the project implementation. The construction of the 1.612-kilometer-long Lendanda tunnel and the 1.633-kilometer-long tunnel towards the Kathmandu-Nijgadh section is already completed. Currently, the 3.322-kilometer-long Mahadevtar Tunnel towards Nijgadh-Kathmandu has completed 2.29 kilometers, while the 3.386-kilometer-long tunnel towards Kathmandu-Nijgadh has reached 2.88 kilometers. Both tracks are expected to be fully opened within a year.

The entire expressway will span 70.977 kilometers, starting from Khokana in Lalitpur and ending at Nijgadh in Bara. The road will be 25 meters wide in hilly terrain and 27 meters wide in Terai terrain. The project includes the construction of six tunnels with a combined length of 10.399 kilometers and 89 bridges totaling 12.885 kilometers in length. Additionally, the project plans to establish rest stops in Budune, and one interchange and toll plaza each in Khokana, Budune, and Nijgadh.

According to the decision of the Council of Ministers on May 4, 2017, the construction management of the project was assigned to the Nepali Army. The foundation stone of the project was laid by then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at Nijgadh in Bara on May 28, 2017. The project was handed over to the Army from the Department of Roads on August 11, 2017.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Paudel, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, Defence Minister Manveer Rai, Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, and the Ambassadors of China and South Korea to Nepal.