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The detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu- Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track (Expressway) has been amended.

According to Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, the document has undergone revisions in a way that it would result in the reduction of both cost and length for the road project.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday decided to revise the DPR for the expressway.  With the revision, the project cost is to decrease by Rs 2 billion.

Following the amendment, it is estimated to cost Rs 211 billion.  The integration of a tunnel into the project contributed to a reduction in the project's overall length and subsequently in its cost as well.

The project is being undertaken with the supervision of the Nepali Army.

The project began on April 25, 2017 and it has so far reported the 25.54 percent project. 

The deadline of the project completion is set for mid-April, 2027.

Initially, the project was estimated to cost Rs 213. 09 billion.

President Ram Chandra Paudel and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting on Wednesday.

Oli reached Sheetal Niwas this afternoon at the call of President Paudel.

During the meeting, they discussed House deadlock and contemporary political issues.

On the occasion, President Paudel expressed his  concern over the House deadlock with main opposition party leader Oli, a source at the President’s Office said.

In the meeting, Oli said that the UML had demanded formation of a high-level probe committee or commission in the Parliament, but the government was not ready to form the same.

Oli said that the regular proceedings of the Parliament were obstructed due to the government’s reluctance to form the high-level probe committee.

In response, the President urged Oli to move ahead by taking all the parties representing in the Parliament into confidence.

Earlier on Friday, Parliament Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina met President Paudel and urged him to take initiatives to open the House.

They had urged the President to hold talks with all the political parties as a guardian.

Three senior leaders of the ruling coalition held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss resolving the House obstruction.

The main opposition CPN-UML has been obstructing the Parliament proceedings for a long time demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the recent gold smuggling case.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Deputy Prime Minister duo Purna Bahadur Khadka and Narayan Kaji Shrestha among others were present in the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar this morning.

The Prime Minister’s press coordinator Surya Kiran Sharma said that the meeting has decided to intensify the process of talks with the main opposition party and the parties representing in the Parliament to resolve the House deadlock.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dahal, Congress President Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had held a meeting.

The meeting, however, could not reach an agreement to open the House.

The UML has been obstructing the proceedings of both the House of federal Parliament since June 26 demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the gold smuggling case.

The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) on July 18 had seized around one quintal gold that had passed undetected through the customs of the Tribhuvan International Airport.  The yellow metal was concealed in motorcycle brake shoes and electric shavers.

But the weight of the gold after removing the brake shoes came out to be 60 kg.

A Chinese military delegation arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

A team led by Major General Yue Ande, the Tibet Military Commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, landed at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

An eight-member military team led by Major General Yue arrived in Nepal on an official visit.

Brigadier General Sunil Shrestha and Major General Sagar Bahadur Thapa welcomed them at the airport.

The high-ranking Chinese military team is scheduled to meet Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma among others, Nepal Army Information Officer and Brigadier General Krishna Prasad Bhandari said.

Issues like border security, military relationship between the two countries will be discussed during the meeting.