KATHMANDU: The works on railway development linking Kathmandu to India and China as talked by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli are undergoing.
The pre-feasibility study of Kathmandu-Kerung has been completed. The study team has submitted the report to Nepal and China governments. The report concludes that the railway construction from Kathmandu to Kerung is very challenging but not impossible.
Rs 257 billion are estimated to construct 72.25 km railway, according to senior divisional engineer Prakash Bhakta Upadhyaya of Department of Railways. “Rs 3.55 billion is needed to develop per kilometer of railway,” he said.
Meanwhile, a team led by Madhusudan Adhikari, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport left on Saturday for China, claiming as per Chinese invitation to discuss on the railway issues.
The detailed discussion will be held in Beijing between Nepal and China about challenges of railway development. If the meeting ends positively, the study on DPR (Detailed Project Report) will be moved ahead, It will take at least a year to carry out DPR.
Then after, the modality of investment will be discussed between two countries. China has proposed to provide loans but Nepal has urged to provide grants for railway development. The government officials claimed that 50 percent may be loan and 50 percent grants as a mid-way path.
It is coincidence that India has also forwarded railway construction from Raxaul to Kathmandu. The pre-feasibility study of this project also has been completed. However, the report is yet to be prepared. According to the Indian sides, the report will be finalized soon. An agreement was signed to develop Raxaul-Kathmandu railway during India visit of PM KP Oli.
Both China and India have carried out feasibility studies on their own expenses. The government officials claimed that the railway from Raxaul to Kathmandu will be completed faster if works go on regularly.
