Prime Minister Sushila Karki has instructed authorities to proceed with the Kathmandu–Tarai Expressway using an alternative starting point, setting aside the dispute over Khokana.

Local communities in Lalitpur had raised concerns that beginning the expressway at Khokana would affect religious and cultural heritage. Khokana is a traditional and small Newari village about eight kilometres south of Kathmandu.

At a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, Karki directed officials to move forward with a revised plan.

During a January 27 inspection of the under-construction expressway, she emphasised the need to consider local concerns while advancing development work. She also said that even if the starting point changes, the national pride project must be completed promptly.

The meeting included Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Physical Infrastructure Minister Madhav Chaulagain, National Planning Commission vice-chair Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel, and officials from the expressway project and related ministries. The Nepali Army briefed participants on progress, challenges, and expectations.

Karki urged all agencies to avoid unnecessary delays. “Development work should not be delayed unnecessarily. We should resolve disputes as much as possible. But if a dispute arises, we cannot remain stuck indefinitely. We must find alternatives and move forward,” she said.

She added that the detailed project report (DPR) will be revised, relocating the starting point from Khokana to a location agreed upon through consensus. Delays could increase the economic burden of the project, making timely completion crucial.

Following the directive, the DPR will place the toll plaza 3.3 km below Khokana, at Farsidol, according to the prime minister’s secretariat.

The expressway, handed over to the army in 2017, spans 70.977 km, with tunnels covering 10.979 km. Thirteen of the 89 bridges have been completed, totalling 12.885 km. The project’s physical progress currently stands at 45.16 percent.