KATHMANDU, MARCH 23 The expansion of the six-lane expressway from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavre has achieved nearly 67 percent physical progress, project officials said. Launched three years ago, the project is expected to be completed within the stipulated deadline of mid-December 2026. The 16-kilometre stretch of the Araniko Highway is being upgraded to six lanes under two separate packages. The first section, from Suryabinayak to Sanga, has reached 65 percent completion, while the Sanga–Dhulikhel stretch has recorded 55 percent progress. The Suryabinayak–Sanga section is being constructed at a cost of Rs 3.88 billion. Information Officer Anju Pariyar said that one of the three planned bridges-a bridge over the Mahadev River-is currently under construction along this stretch. She added that the designs for the remaining two bridges have been completed, and construction will begin soon. Likewise, Lama Construction Pvt Ltd is executing the Sanga–Dhulikhel section at a cost of Rs 4.5 billion. Work on this stretch has recently progressed smoothly, although it had previously been stalled due to local issues. Project Engineer Bishnu Prasad Khanal said that construction activities have now been intensified at multiple sites, including Janagal, Basghari–Budol, Sanga–Bhainsepati, and Banepa.