Kathmandu, Feb 17: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed officials to move forward with an alternative plan regarding the starting point of the Kathmandu–Terai/Madhes Fast Track, keeping in mind the ongoing dispute in Khokana, Lalitpur.

The directive came during a high-level discussion held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, amid growing concerns from the local community in Khokana about potential impacts on religious, cultural heritage, and traditional settlements.

Earlier, on Magh 13, Prime Minister Karki had inspected the under-construction fast track project and emphasized that local concerns must be taken seriously during development works. She stated that even if the departure point needs to be revised, the national pride project should be completed at the earliest.

For the discussion, Prime Minister Karki convened Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Madhav Chaulagain, National Planning Commission Vice Chairman Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, along with secretaries and project officials.

During the meeting, the Nepal Army, which is overseeing the fast track construction, briefed the Prime Minister on the project’s progress, challenges, and expectations from the government.

Prime Minister Karki instructed all concerned bodies to avoid unnecessary delays and prevent disputes from stalling development work. “There should be no unnecessary delay in development work. Disputes should be resolved as much as possible. But if a dispute arises, it should not be stuck there indefinitely. We should find alternatives and move forward,” she said.

She further directed officials to revise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) if necessary. “If the starting point is not clear, let’s establish a starting point where there is agreement and continue the project until completion,” she stated, adding that prolonged delays could increase financial burdens due to the scale of investment involved.

Following her directive, the DPR is set to be amended to construct a toll plaza at Farsidol, located 3.3 kilometers below Khokana, as an alternative arrangement to address local concerns while ensuring the project progresses without further delay.