Kathmandu, November 30
The Nepal Army says Khokana town of Lalitpur is more appropriate than nearby Pharsidole village as suggested by some locals to consider the beginning point for the ambitious Kathmandu-Tarai fast track.
The national military organisation assigned to carry out the assignment presented its arguments for retaining Khokana as the starting point during a meeting of the Development and Technology Committee of Parliament today.
The parliamentary panel had summoned the army after locals of Khokana protested the government plan claiming the construction works would destroy their culturally rich settlement.
But, Chief of the Engineering Department of the army, Major General Yogendra Khand, said more land would be acquired and permanent structures would be lost if the starting point was changed to Pharsidole. It would also result in the increase cost, according to him.
Meanwhile, the army called on political and administrative leadership to create a conducive environment to begin the construction works.
