Kathmandu: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers engaged in discussions with various stakeholders on Monday to address key infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Tokha-Chahare tunnel, the operation of the Nagdhunga tunnel, and resolving issues related to the road expansion of the Syaphrubensi-Rasuwagadhi section.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the discussions centered on expediting infrastructure development from the start of the new fiscal year. The meeting also aimed at ensuring reforms in traffic management along major highways, particularly during the upcoming festive season. The focus on the Tokha-Chahare tunnel included directives for the Ministry of Forest and Environment, along with other agencies, to resolve misunderstandings and complete tasks necessary for environmental impact assessment approval and feasibility study from the Chinese side, as stated by Prime Minister’s personal secretary Binod Bahadur Kunwar.
Additionally, the discussions covered legal provisions and operational modalities for the Nagdhunga tunnel. The meeting also addressed the completion of the remaining 19 kilometers of blacktop for the Syaphrubensi-Rasuwagadhi road section, with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport set to facilitate the necessary processes. To date, 38 kilometers of this road section have been completed.
Present at the meeting were PM’s Economic Advisor Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, Public Relations Advisor Kiran Paudel, and secretaries Raj Kumar Shrestha, Keshav Kumar Sharma, Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Rabilal Pantha, among others.