KATHMANDU — Delivering the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2026/27 before a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced massive capital injections for strategic connectivity projects, prioritizing the upgrading of national arterial roadways and bridges.

The government has earmarked a hefty Rs 37.46 billion exclusively for the expansion and maintenance of the East-West Highway.

Outlining a definitive timeline for the national network, Dr. Wagle announced that the four-lane expansion of the entire 1,028-kilometer stretch of the East-West Highway will be fully completed within the next five years.

Furthermore, the high-traffic Kamala-Kanchanpur and Butwal-Narayanghat highway segments are targeted to reach