House gives govt, NA 15 days to finalise Fast Track DPR

 Kathmandu, Sept. 20: The Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament Wednesday directed the government and the Nepal Army to conclude the Detail Project Report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track within 15 days. 

After holding discussions with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Finance, National Planning Commission (NPC), Nepal Army (NA) and other experts at its secretariat at Singha Durbar this morning, the committee also directed the concerned stakeholders to immediately resolve the issues related to land acquisition and compensation distribution. 

“The progress of the national pride project is very slow. It is primarily due to the government’s insincerity to expedite the construction of the projects like the Fast Track rather than the complexities related to the process,” said the chairman of the Committee, Rabindra Adhikari. 

It’s been four months since the NA was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing the shortest highway connecting the southern Terai with the capital city. It was in a fix whether to buy the DPR prepared by the Indian company, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS). 

“We have heard that the India company had asked an unreasonable price for the DPR. Therefore, this committee directs the government, line ministries, NPC and the NA to buy the report at a minimum cost or find an alternative way for the work,” reads the decision of the committee. 

It also asked the government and related agencies to be transparent and follow proper legal methods while selecting and buying the consultancy services. 

The government has allocated Rs. 10.13 billion for the project in the current fiscal year. Although Rs. 10 billion was allocated for the project last fiscal year, the government couldn’t spend any money since there was no progress at the site. 

Chief of the Department of Engineering at the NA Yogendra Khand said that the Army was studying the DPR of the IL&FS. 

The government had decided to cancel all agreements and dealings with the IL&FS and take up the construction by itself, in November 2016.