Kathmandu, June 25: The Development and Technology Committee of parliament has ordered the government to authenticate detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Tarai Madhes Fast Track Project without much ado.
Speaking in the parliamentary on Monday (June 24), chair of the committee, Kalyani Kumar Khadka, came up with such instruction.
He also directed the Nepal Army to prepare work plan for accomplishing this 76-km expressway within the stipulated timeframe in an effective and efficient way.
Though the DPR prepared by South Korean firm Soosung Engineering and Consulting Company was forwarded to the cabinet on March 26, it yet to approve the same so far.
Earlier, the government had given the responsibility of preparing the DPR of this 76-km Fast Track Project to an Indian company, LS & FS. However, the Nepal Army, which is undertaking the task of constructing this mega project, flatly rejected the cost of Rs 610 million quoted by this company for completing the job. The army did do stating that the very amount was “too exorbitant”. Later, it came up with a decision to hand over the duty of preparing the DPR to the South Korean firm at the cost of Rs 100 million.
Some three months ago, the army decided to pay the South Korea firm Rs 100 million for the DPR. The firm has proposed to build more bridges and tunnels in the 18-kilometer section and the length of the expressway, according to it, can be reduced to 72 kilometers by building bridges and tunnels.
