Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has engaged in discussions with local residents and their representatives from Khokana and Bungmati to address disputes regarding the starting point of the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes Expressway. The meeting aimed to find a resolution that respects local concerns while advancing the expressway project.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Coordinator of the Local People’s Concerns Committee, Nepal Dangol, along with other representatives, met with the Prime Minister to suggest an alternative approach to resolve the ongoing dispute. The Committee proposed shifting the expressway’s starting point to Dukuchhap, a move that could preserve the cultural heritage of Khokana while facilitating the project’s progress.
During the discussions, Prime Minister Oli assured the local leaders that he would visit the site personally to gain a better understanding of the situation before making a final decision. He emphasized that the government’s development efforts were not intended to harm local communities. High-level officials, including Defence Secretary Rameshwor Dangal, representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and the Nepali Army, were also present at the meeting.
Previously, on February 5, PM Oli held talks on the project’s progress and challenges with key officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal, Minister for Defence Man Bir Rai, PM’s Economic Affairs Advisor Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel, and others. The Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway, with a total length of 70.97 kilometers, is projected to cost Rs 211.93 billion and is scheduled for completion by mid-April 2026.