Kathmandu Infrastructure Under Strain Due to Expressway Delays

The 70.97-kilometre national project, the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Expressway, is nearing a decade under construction by the Nepali Army, with physical progress reported at only about half complete. The project has faced significant cost overruns and has been extended for the third time. This slow progress leaves the capital dependent on existing routes like the Prithvi Highway and Tribhuvan Highway.

The delays mean that Kathmandu lacks a direct alternative route to the plains when natural disasters occur. This reliance on older roads makes them vulnerable to landslides and congestion during crises. Recent events, such as the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods, demonstrated the critical nature of the main supply arteries to the capital.

An under-construction expressway is being built to connect the regions of Kathmandu and Madhesh.