President approves Railway Ordinance

President Ram Baran Yadav today endorsed the Railway Ordinance, which will now expedite development of the railway in the country.

The president’s approval will help form Railway Board, an autonomous body to develop, expand, operate and manage the railways in the country.

The ordinance that is an amended to the Railway Act 1963 will give legal teeth to the railway authority. The Act will also help expedite works for construction as the government was planning to carry out big railway projects.

According to the emended act, the board will be chaired by the minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and the Department of Railways will now be transformed into the Railway Board.

The government is currently planning Mechi Mahakali Electrical Project, Metro Rail in the valley and cross-border railway links with India.

The government has also been planning to carry out a feasibility study on North-South railway links aimed at connecting two neighbouring countries —India and China — as part of Trans-Asia Railway Network, which Nepal had also agreed to be a part of in December 2011. It will connect Nepal with railway networks in Europe, enabling uninterrupted movement of people and goods.