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Army yet to begin DPR negotiations
The construction of Kathmandu-Tarai expressway is likely to be further delayed, as the Nepal Army, which has been appointed by the government to build the 76-km roadway, is yet to begin negotiations to purchase the detailed project report (DPR).The construction of Kathmandu-Tarai expressway is likely to be further delayed, as the Nepal Army, which has been appointed by the government to build the 76-km roadway, is yet to begin negotiations to purchase the detailed project report (DPR).
It has been almost a month since the government allowed an army-led committee to begin negotiations with the Indian consortium to purchase the DPR.
The DPR was prepared by the Indian consortium, which comprises Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Transportation Networks, IL&FS Engineering and Construction, and Suryavir Infrastructure Construction.
But the six-member committee is yet to begin talks with the consortium. This is expected to delay construction of the expressway, which will reduce travel time between the country’s Capital and Nijgad in the south to less than an hour from over three hours at present.
“After the government’s decision, we thought the committee would contact us immediately,” said a source close to the Indian consortium. “But none of the government agency has communicated with the Indian company.”
Different government agencies, including the Nepal Army, have evaluated the DPR prepared by the consortium on multiple occasions, according to the source. “But we don’t understand why everything is moving ahead so slowly,” added the source. The acquisition of the DPR is very important as the project can go ahead only on the basis of the report.
Nepal Army, on the other hand, has said it is still going through the DPR and will start negotiations soon. “The DPR is a very important and expensive document and we should not make the decision in haste,” said Nepal Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Nain Raj Dahal. “We are planning to wrap up the negotiations and acquire the report within this month.”
A high-level committee formed under the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) had then suggested to the government to build the project on its own by using the DPR prepared by the Indian company to save time and cost.
The committee submitted its report to the government last February.