Kathmandu, Feb. 18 -- The Nepal Army is once again returning around half of the budget released for the Kathmandu-Tarai expressway project. The government had approved Rs 15 billion for the national pride project in the current fiscal year. But the national defence force, which took over the project in 2017, was unable to spend the money.

Briefing the Development Committee of Parliament on Monday, the Army said it wouldn't be able to spend Rs 7 billion of the budget meant for the country's first expressway project. Last year, too, the Army had returned Rs 9 billion of the Rs 15 billion released for the project, saying there was no scope for calling international bids for contractors before the fiscal year ended.

The Army has furnished t...