Kathmandu Fast Track: What You Need to Know

The Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast Track highway promises to cut journey times between the capital and the Terai dramatically -- when complete.

Overview

The Fast Track project is a 76km expressway connecting Kathmandu (via Khokana interchange) to Nijgadh in Bara district, planned with a 4-lane divided carriageway capable of 100km/h. When complete, Kathmandu to Nijgadh (and onward to Birgunj and the Indian border) should take under 2 hours versus the current 5 to 7 hours via the Tribhuvan Highway. Construction is ongoing as of 2026, with sections under different completion timelines. The project involves tunnels through the Mahabharat range and massive elevated sections. Current Terai-bound travellers still use the Tribhuvan Highway via Hetauda or the Prithvi/Narayangadh route -- both remain slow but operational.

FAQ

When will the Fast Track open? Official targets have shifted multiple times. Partial opening of lower sections has been discussed but full completion remains on a multi-year horizon as of early 2026.

Will there be a toll on the Fast Track? Yes -- as a national expressway project the Fast Track will operate with a toll system, with rates to be announced closer to opening.