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We wrap up our 10-part InDepth series on the Kathmandu-Tarai fast track project on a somber note. The 72.5km expressway comprises 55.5km of road, three tunnels with a combined length of 6.41km, and several bridges measuring a total of 10.59km. The project has been marred by years of delays and cost overruns—and these problems are likely to be compounded in the country’s new economic reality. The army has made a mess of it, handing out crucial bits to dodgy foreign contractors and taking its own sweet time even as it continues to ask for more and more money. 

Five years into the project, only 16.1 percent work has been completed. Land-compensation issues are yet to be settled. Tunnels yet to be cut through. Environmental concerns have been given a short shift. It is hard to be optimistic about the future of this ‘national pride project’ that has already cost the exchequer Rs 25.4bn. 

Either the project has to be scrapped without further delay or the state must ensure it is not pushed beyond its new January 2025 deadline. Our calculations suggest more delays could exponentially increase costs and make the project unviable. Time then for all the concerned to go back to the drawing board.

Full story here.

Renu Dahal has filed her candidacy for the post of mayor in Bharatpur Metropolitan City of Chitwan on Monday.

She registered her nomination at the Chief Election Officer's Office this afternoon.

Similarly, Chitrasen Adhikari registered his candidacy for the post of deputy mayor from the Nepali Congress.

Dahal was the former mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

She got the ticket from the CPN (Maoist Centre) as per the agreement reached among the ruling parties.

Nepali Congress has finalized candidates in all the municipalities of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Metropolitan Cities.

The Bagmati Province Parliamentary Committee, Kathmandu picked Upendra Karki as the mayoral candidate of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality. 

Similarly, Deepak Risal and Shanti Nepal have been chosen as the candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor respectively of Gokarneshwor Municipality.

The party had decided to pick Ghanshyam Giri and Yamunadevi Shrestha as the mayoral and deputy candidates of Chandragiri Municipality.

Krishna Hari Maharjan and Srijana Burlakoti have been picked as the candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor respectively of Tarkeshwor Minicipality.

Mohan Basnet and Basanti Tamang have been picked as the mayoral and deputy mayoral  candidates of Dakshinkali Municipality.

Similarly, Mohan Bahadur Basnet and Kalyani Khadgi have been chosen as the candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of Nagarjun Municipality and Binod Chalise has been picked as the mayoral candidate of Budhanilkantha.

Likewise, Om Karki and Samita Shrestha have been nominated as the candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of Shankarapur Municipality, Chief Secretary of Bagmati Province Office Raju Nepal said.

Meanwhile, Surendra Shrestha has been chosen as the mayoral candidate of Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur and Nisan Dangol as the mayoral candidate of Surya Binayak Municipality.

Jeevan Chhetri has been picked as the mayoral candidate of Changunarayan Municipality and Ram Kasula as the mayoral candidate of Bhaktapur Municipality.

The Nepali Congress has decided to filed Chiribabu Maharjan as its mayoral candidate in Lalitpur Metropolitan City.

Maharjan is the incumbent mayor of Lalitpur.

Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba this morning has decided to field Maharjan as the party's mayoral candidate in Lalitpur Metropolitan City.