Railway passengers without ticket to be fined Rs 25,000

If anyone travels without buying a ticket in the railway, the person will have to pay cash penalty of Rs 25,000.
The government has – in the new Railway Bill – brought some of the strict provisions, as the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway is about to start operation. After being endorsed by the House of Representatives, the government today tabled the Railway Bill at the National Assembly for final approval.
The government has been long planning to operate railway services in a number of possible routes in and out of the Kathmandu Valley. “Apart from the railway service between Kurtha of Janakpur and Jaynagar of India, the government is planning to operate the new transport means in Kathmandu-Raxaul, Kathmandu-Kyirong and Nijgadh-Hetauda-Bharatpur routes. Likewise, the East West Electrified Railway is also an ambitious project that the government has planned in order to improve connectivity within the country.
Currently, the sector is managed under the provisions of Railways Act 1963 but the government has revived Nepal Railway Company by revising the organisational structure of the old company, and also with a legal teeth. A fully autonomous Nepal Railway Board will work as the regulator of the sector, the Bill reads, adding that the board will be authorised to manage separate travelling ticket examiner to ascertain whether passengers are traveling with ticket or not.
The Bill has provision allowing the Nepali company to extend railway service in other countries or foreign companies to extend their services up to Nepali land. Likewise, any foreign company wishing to operate railway service via Nepali land to connect to the third countries will be given permission based on mutual agreement, it reads.
“The government in accordance with the concerned countries can enforce its own conditions, mechanism and work guidelines,” the bill reads, allowing the government to form a separate unit for the security of the railway lines and related services. It has sought a separate license for the operator of the railway service. “But the operator must be a 10 grade pass or above to be eligible for the job.”

Nepal, China agree to conduct feasibility study of Kathmandu-Kerung railway service

Nepal and China agreed to start feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway service.
The authorities from the two countries decided to start the feasibility study of the much-hyped cross border transportation project during a meeting in Kathmandu today. “The two countries had decided to expedite the process of constructing the railway line during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October,” according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
“A 21-member Chinese team arrived Kathmandu yesterday to implement the decision taken during Xi’s visit,” the press note reads, adding that the authorities of the two countries signed an agreement during today’s meeting to start the feasibility study.
The representatives of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation and visiting officials from China’s National Railway Administration – on the occasion – divided the responsibilities during the meeting.
“The Chinese side will conduct aerial mapping and geographical study, while the Nepali side will prepare the environment impact assessment report and provide security to the Chinese team,” informed the director general of the Railway Department Balaram Mishra. “The Chinese side will also prepare the detailed project report at its own expense,” he said, adding that the Chinese side has, however, maintained that it needs to study the project in detail as it is being constructed in one of the most challenging terrains in the world.
The Chinese side has, though not in clear words, been repeatedly saying that construction of much-hyped Kathmandu-Kerung railway is not a cake walk rather a challenging task, and takes long time.

Kathmandu-Birgunj electric railway to cost around Rs 265 billion

Kathmandu-Birgunj electric railway is going to cost around Rs 265 billion, according to a Preliminary Engineering and Traffic (PET) report prepared by an Indian firm Kanekar Consulting Engineers (KCE).
Initial draft of the feasibility report of the proposed 135-kilometre-long Kathmandu-Birgunj electric railway has been submitted to the Nepal and Indian governments on May 7. After the consideration of the both countries, further process including conducting detailed engineering study and detailed project report of the project will start, according to the Department of Railways (DoRW).
Apart from the passengers, the electric rail will also transport cargo containers, which is expected to significantly minimise the transport cost and ease the trading.
The report has suggested four alternative routes of the railway, according to director general of the department Balaram Mishra. “The alternative routes include 135-kilometre-long Raxaul-Jitpur-Nijgadh-Shikharpur-Sisnery-Kathmandu; 171-km-long Raxaul-Jitpur-Hatiya-Hetauda-Satikhel-Kathmandu; 191-km-long Raxaul-Jitpur-Nijgadh-Hetauda-Satikhel-Kathmandu; and 191-km-long Raxaul-Jitpur-Nijgadh-Shikharpur-Satikhel-Kathmandu,” he said, adding that the India firm has suggested conducting further studies on the first alternative route – the 135-kilometre-long Raxaul-Jitpur-Nijgadh-Shikharpur-Sisnery-Kathmandu – as it will cost less and has the shortest distance among the four alternatives. “The PET report has identified the places along the route, where 42-km-long tunnel, bridges and other necessary railway infrastructure needs to be built, which means around 20 per cent of railway line will comprise of tunnels and bridges.”
The report has also suggested 13 railway stations along the route of the railway project that needs to acquire around 900 hectares of land.
Both the countries had agreed on effective implementation of bilateral initiatives in railway linkages, inland waterways development and agriculture during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal on May 11 and 12 last year. The Indian prime minister had assured that the entire cost – including establishment of an office, pre-feasibility study, detailed feasibility study (DFS) and detailed project report (DPR) – to construct the railway from Kathmandu to Raxaul will be covered by the Indian government.

Nepal waits to seal Kerung-Kathmandu railway deal during Chinese President’s visit

Nepal is waiting to sign an ambitious Kerung-Kathmandu cross-border railway agreement during the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping this weekend.
The Foreign Ministry today confirmed the Chinese President’s two-day state visit to Kathmandu accepting the friendly invitation of President Mrs Bidya Devi Bhandari. Xi will be coming to Nepal on October 12.
“The historic visit of the Chinese President will also see signing of Kerung-Kathmandu Railway agreement," said prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s foreign affairs advisor Dr Rajan Bhattarai.
“The President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Nepal on October 12 and 13,” he said, adding that during the visit, Xi will meet with President Bhandari, who will host a banquet in honour of the Chinese president and his delegation. “President Xi will hold delegation level official talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, following the talks, both the leaders will witness the signing of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.”
One of the key agreements the Prime Ministers of both the countries will witness is much-talked about Kerung-Kathmandu Railway agreement, Bhattarai said.
However, the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former foreign minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, welcoming the high level visit from China – after 23 years since Jiang Zemin visited in 1996 – said that the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway should be constructed in Chinese grant not loan. “Kerung-Kathmandu Railway is important but more important is the road connectivity to bridge the widening trade deficit of Nepal with China,” he said, adding that the all-weather road connectivity between the two neighbours is the need of the hour, and investment (through loan) in cross border railway will not be economically feasible at present.
There are two schools of thought among Nepali intelligentsia at present, either to construct the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway in Chinese Loan or grant. The one, who thinks China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a debt-trap, opines that the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway is not economically feasible and Nepal will fall in Chinese debt trap. But the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) government – also blamed for leaning towards north – has been using the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway agreement as its key to political achievement since it has failed to perform since it came to power 2 years ago.
Different Chinese officials have also repeatedly said that the detailed project report (DPR) of Kerung-Kathmandu railway will take a lot more time to materialise due to technical, engineering and geological reasons. China is yet to connect its railway to Sigatse, from where railway can be connected to Nepal-China broder Kerung to further connect to Kathmandu.
However, a joint communiqué issued after the conclusion of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in April had incorporated the Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and Nepal-China cross-border railway.
Xi will be flying to Kathmandu from Mamallapuram near Chennai in India where the Chinese President and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting on October 11 and 12 for the second ‘informal summit’ after the Wuhan Summit last April.
The press note from the Foreign Ministry also stated that the Chennai informal summit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral, regional and global importance.

Department of Railways seeks human resources

The Department of Railways has sought 200 technical and non-technical staffers to revive the Nepal Railway Company to timely operate Janakpur-Kurtha railways.
The government is planning to operate the Janakpur-Kurtha railway service from October and the department has asked the government to provide staffer to timely start the service.
Nepal Railway Company used to operate Janakpur-Jayanagar railways – which is now non-functional – since 2014, some five years ago – which the government is planning to resume by the end of this year.
“We asked the line ministry, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, in writing to provide us with necessary human resources to revive the company and start Janakpur-Kurtha railway service from October,” Department of Railways confirmed. “The government is planning to operate both passenger and freight trains in the Janakpur-Jayanagar section.”
The Janakpur-Jayanagar railway track reconstruction work is ongoing – at present – with technical and financial support from India..
The department has started the process to revive the government-owned railway company from April 24, the department informed, adding that it has already amended the bylaws for the operation of railway service and hiring of staffers. “It is necessary to revise the previous bylaws and make them more contextual to revamp the railway company and also resume the railway service.”
The department needs to revamp the current organisational structure of the company, apart from adding human resources, also as the government is planning to construct various railway projects across the country.

Nepal-India cross-border railway DPR finalised

As Nepal is preparing for a consultation meeting on the construction of Kathmandu-Kerung Railway including preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the project, India has handed over the DPR of proposed cross-border railway between India’s Rupaidiya and Kohalpur in Banke of Nepal.
According to the DPR, the proposed railway track will run parallel and between the East-West Highway and the Postal Highway.
After receiving the DPR from Indian government, the government is preparing to start the process of land acquisition for the proposed cross-border railway. The 18.5-km railway track will start from Rupaidiya Railway Station and pass through Jayaspur, Indrapur, Guruwa Gaun, Hawaldalpur, Rajhena and end in Kohalpur of Banke in Nepal. “While India – upon the completion of the survey work by its technicians – has submitted a report to Banke District Administration, it has submitted the project DPR to the Railway Department,” according to Railway Department.
But constructing the railway line track above the East-West Highway will have to clear a huge swathe of national parks, the department said, adding that the sanctuaries will be, however, safe.
According to the DPR, the railway line will be constructed two to three-km away from the East-West Highway. “Some human settlements may fall on the way but the government will compensate them,” the department said, adding that the government aims at constructing 4,000-km railway network in two decades. “The incumbent government will construct some 750-km long railway network in five years.”

China wants some concerns to be addressed before cross-border railway DPR talks

China has sought clarity on five basic issues ahead of Detail Project Report (DPR) for the Kerung-Kathmandu railway, during the fourth Nepal-China bilateral meeting that concluded today in Beijing without entering the agenda of the DPR.
Chinese officials asked the Nepali side to first meet the standards set by a pre-feasibility study for the project. Chinese officials at the meet pointed out the need for further technical study of the report, it had prepared earlier conducting a pre-feasibility study and submitted to the Nepal government.
Likewise, the Chinese officials asked for preparations to tackle the engineering challenges that may arise in future, and sought an in-depth study on minimizing possible geological disaster. The Chinese side also showed concern about measures to be taken to ensure the security of the railway system, apart from the need for a scientific study to minimize ecological impact in the affected areas.
China will enter into the matter of the feasibility study – also called the DPR – only after settling the the concerns it showed during the meeting, according to a participants in the meeting, though deputy chief of Mission at the Nepal Embassy in Beijing Sushil Kumar Lamsal claimed that both sides were encouraged by the output of the bilateral talks.
The Nepali team – led by secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Karki for the fourth meeting in Beijing held the discussion with the Chinese team – led by deputy administrator of China's National Rail Administration An Lu Shan – agreed to hold fifth meeting in Kathmandu in December. The meeting might enter into the feasibility study, only if work Nepal addresses the five-point concern raised by Beijing, according to the Nepali teammates.
The Nepal-China railway mechanism was established two years ago. Its first meeting was held in November 2017 in Kathmandu, whereas the second meeting was held in Beijing and the third again in Kathmandu followed by the current meeting, the fourth one in Beijing.
The fifth meeting will be held in Kathmandu in December..

Nepali team leaves for Beijing to discuss cross-border railway links

A Nepali team today left for Beijing – on the invitation of the government of China – for consultation on the construction of cross border railway including preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the project.
Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Karki is leading the Nepali team that has joint-secretary Gopal Prasad Sigdel, director-general of the Department of Railways Balram Mishra, spokesperson Aman Chitrakar and the representatives of the Finance Ministry, Foreign Ministry and the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. This will be the fourth railway meeting between Nepal and China.
The Nepali delegation will also have bilateral discussions with the office-bearers of the National Railway Authority of China, apart from participating in the Nepal-China Railway Cooperation Committee’s meeting in Beijing.
According to Karki, the Chinese and Nepali officials will dwell on topics including investment and construction modality. Nepal and China had agreed to move forward the process of railway construction during the official visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on June 19-24, 2018.
It has been long since Beijing has submitted the preliminary study report – prepared by the Chinese technical team – on the railway project to Nepal. “The report has paved the way for carrying out further home work regarding the modality and the modus operandi for the construction of this railway,” according to the Department of Railways.
According to the preliminary study, Kathmandu-Kerung railway will be 80-km with construction period of nine years at estimated cost of approximately Rs 300 billion, according to the department.
The proposed railway – under the China’ Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – linking Kerung city in southern Tibet to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, entering the country in Rasuwa district will eventually go to India making Nepal a transit country. However, the proposed railway links between Nepal and China have started a debate in Nepal with many dreaming of cheaper goods and a geostrategic balance to India, whereas others claiming it a pipedream of KP Oli government, which used it as a election winning strategy, and a debt trap for Nepal. However, the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi, recently, has tried to allay fears clarifying that the BRI is not a ‘debt trap’ that some countries may fall into, but an ‘economic pie’ that benefits the local population.
The pre-feasibility study report prepared by China in late 2018 accepts that the project is an extremely hard one but not impossible. “Technically it will be one of the world’s toughest railways to construct,” according to the report that has listed six extremes including topography, weather, hydrology and tectonics making the project hugely challenging.
About 98 per cent of the railway on the Nepal side will be in tunnels and on bridges according to the report that has proposed about five stopovers. Tracks will need to be built on steep terrain, as the railway climbs from an altitude of 1,400 metres in Kathmandu to about 4,000 metres in Tibet. The proposed route also cuts through the mountains near a major fault line – where the Indian plate meets the Eurasian plate to form the Himalayas – so the area is very susceptible to earthquakes.
Preliminary estimates of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway project – listed as one of the 64 to be considered under China’s BRI during the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in April – comes to around 38 billion yuan ($5.5 billion). The railway would be 170-km long from Tibet to Kathmandu. Although only one third of the total length falls on the Nepal side, it would account for almost half of the costs due to the extreme geology and climate.
The Chinese do not seem in a rush as the Chinese railway line from Shigatse needs to arrive at Kerung, which is only expected to happen by 2025, before it will be linked to Kathmandu and then Birgunj, and Pokhara. Both the sides – in Beijing – will also discuss a feasibility study for the Kathmandu-Pokhara railway, over which a joint team of Nepali and Chinese technicians had conducted a field visit last December. Nepal is seeking a grant from China to construct the railway, whereas China has not been very enthusiastic about it, the Nepali delegation added.
Likewise, the government is currently studying another railway project, the east-west railway planned in the southern plains. A new 34-km railway from the Indian state of Bihar to Nepal is due to start running in a few months but the government will have to hire a train driver from India and other technicians to operate its first modern rail.
India has submitted a ‘pre-engineering and traffic survey report’ for the Raxaul-Kathmandu railway last month. Nepal and India had signed an agreement to conduct a survey on connecting Kathmandu with the Indian town of Raxaul in Bihar during the fourth BIMSTEC summit, held in Kathmandu last August.  Konkan Railway Corporation Limited – owned by the Indian government – had been tasked with preparing the report.
According to the Indian report, there are two alternatives – some 200-km of tracks with a gradient of one per cent, the same as the Indian rail network; or 135-km of tracks at a gradient of 1.5 per cent. The survey has also suggested the construction of 40-km to 50-km of underground tunnels.
Nepal and India, however, still have differences over the gauge – the width – of the railway track. The Indian side has based its survey report on a broad gauge while Nepali technicians prefer a standard gauge as China generally uses a standard gauge in its railways and it will be easier to connect both the railway lines in future.

Nepal, China to sign transit trade pact protocol during president’s Beijing visit

Nepal and China are signing the Nepal-China Transit Transport Agreement (TTA) during President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s visit to Beijing. The signing of the much-hyped and long-awaited protocol is expected to give Nepal alternative ports to the third country trade from the Indian ports.
The President is visiting Beijing to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Bhandari is scheduled to leave for China on April 24. Bhandari will address the Belt and Road Forum on April 25. She is expected to return home on April 28.
The protocol – that will pave the way for the implementation of the TTA – is planned to be exchanged between secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply Kedar Bahadur Adhikari and a Chinese vice-minister on behalf of their respective governments in the presence of Bhandari and Xi.
Nepal and China initialled the protocol of the agreement, which was signed in March 2016 during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s China visit, in Kathmandu on September 7. After few revisions, both the governments have endorsed it for formal signing. The cabinet approved the protocol some two weeks ago and the Chinese government had also endorsed it.
At the time of the protocol’s finalisation in September, the two countries had agreed to formally sign the protocol during a high-level visit.
The protocol of the TTA will allow Nepal to use Shenzen, Lianyungang, Zhanjiang and Tianjin seaports, ending Nepal’s sole dependence on Indian ports for overseas trade. Nepal will also been allowed to use Lanzhou, Lhasa and Xigatse dry ports. According to the protocol, Nepali traders will also be allowed to use any mode of transport – rail or road – to access the seaports for third-country trade.
President's delegation will include Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supply Matrika Prasad Yadav, secretary Adhikari and Nepal’s ambassador to China Lilamani Poudyal.
During the Beijing visit, President Bhandari will meet President Xi and extend him a formal invitation to visit Nepal. Though, Xi has already visited South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives, he has yet to visit Nepal. Xi is expected to visit Nepal shortly after Bhandari’s visit to Beijing. 

DPRs of cross border railways to be completed within a year: Mahaseth

Nepal expects to complete Detail Project Reports (DPR) of cross border railways within a year.
Addressing a session on 'Building Sustainable Transport Infrastructure' during the Nepal Investment Summit 2019, here today, minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth said that Nepal is expecting to complete the (DPR) of Kathmandu-Kerung and Kathmandu-Raxual railways within a year.
"The East-West Railway is around 1100-kilometer," he said, adding that Nepal has already completed pre-feasibility survey of Kathmandu-Kerung and Kathmandu-Raxual railways. "We hope to complete DPRs of both the railways within one year."
He also said that the estimated cost of proposed Kathmandu-Kerung railway is around $3 billion. "Nepal is planning to finalise the DPR of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway project in six months," he said, adding that there will be discussion with the Chinese side about the modality of the DPR by the first week of April. "The government is working to improve transport infrastructure in the country."
Highlighting the need for cable car and e-vehicle among other transportation infrastructures, as an alternative transportation models in Nepal, he said that Nepal doesnot have technology in infrastructure development of Nepal. "Thus Nepal should develop this sector with the support from neighbouring countries."
Encouraging the private sector to invest in the aviation sector, Mahaseth said that Nepal is now heading to achieve sound economic growth. "Nepal is graduating to the middle-income country by 2030."
Inaugurated by the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today morning, the third investment summit is witnessing parallel sessions 'Infrastructure: Building Sustainable Transport Infrastructure', 'Agro and Forest Products: Opportunities Through Niche and Value Chains' and two plenary sessions 'Invest in Nepal: Experience Sharing', 'International Experience Sharing' and 'Financing for Infrastructure Development", and over 600 foreign investors including high-level delegates from 40 countries are sharing their experience.
Mahaseth, on the occasion, said
Speaking, on the occasion, panelists in the discussion said that Nepal needs to construct infrastructure in the transport sector and there are ample opportunities to invest in Nepal.

Detailed feasibility study of Kathmandu-Kerung railway to begin in March

The detailed feasibility study of the 75-km-long Trans Himalayan Kathmandu-Kerung railway will start from March, according to the Department of Railways (DoRW). A joint study team of Nepali and Chinese engineers are scheduled to start the detailed feasibility study and also the detailed project report from next month, the department informed.
The feasibility study will be started simultaneously from Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Kerung. The joint team will conduct the detailed feasibility study and detailed project report simultaneously, the director general of DoRW Balaram Mishra said, adding that the department has planned to start conducting the detailed feasibility study from Tokha of Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Kerung simultaneously. "The joint team will study the rock foundation, soil structure and possible alignment."
The team will finalise design and exact cost of the railway project, after completing the detailed feasibility study and engineering design, he added.
As per the pre-feasibility study, the Kathmandu-Kerung railway project is estimated to cost about Rs 275 billion, according to an initial field study conducted in November 2017 by a Chinese technical team. Around 98.55 per cent section of the railway would be covered by tunnels and bridges, according to the study.
The study team – besides Nepali engineers and the local consultant – will comprise of more than 40 core technical Chinese engineers from the China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group. The 14 engineers – sent to China to study about the electrified railway system by the government earlier – will also be included in the study team.
Earlier, a joint team Nepali and Chinese consultants had submitted the pre-feasibility report of the railway project on August 10. Both the nations have held three rounds of discussions after the consultants report.
Nepal had proposed China to conduct the detailed feasibility study and also detailed project report of the project with Chinese investment. China has also agreed to bear all the cost incurred for the study.
The Trans Himalayan Kathmandu-Kerung railway line will be connected to China that has been planning to bring the railway line to Kerung by 2022. The Chinese railway line has currently connects Shigatse – of the Tibetan autonomous region – that is some 540-km from Kerung.

Nepal keen to enhance connectivity with China under BRI : Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that he has requested China to construct the cross-border railway between the two neighbors under a grant.
Speaking at the airport, after returning home today wrapping up his five-day official visit to China, he said that Nepal has requested – during the bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi – the China to build the cross-border railway under the grant aid as a symbol of bilateral relations between the two neighbours. "Developing cross-border railways between Nepal and China is a priority for Nepal government," he added.
However, Nepal is open for discussion about possible investment model, he said, adding that there could be several investment models for the implementation of projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), apart from enhancing cross-border connectivity.
The Nepal-China cross border railway line – from Kerung on China-Nepal border to Kathmandu and to Pokhara and Lumbini on Nepal-India border – is estimated to cost up to $8 billion.
Both sides have reached an understanding to conduct a feasibility study and preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Nepal-China cross border Railway line at the earliest. The agreement has been made 'for attaining common prosperity by incorporating areas such as railway line, trading port, air transport, electricity and communication', according to the press communique issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Gyawali also said that both Kathmandu and Beijing have agreed to implement all the past agreements – including the agreements by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in 2016 and by the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamala Dahal in 2017 – signed between Nepal and China.
The Transit and Transport Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on launching a joint feasibility study for a Nepal-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are the key documents signed during Oli visit. Likewise, the Dahal-led government had signed a MoU on cooperation on the BRI.
Introduced by China in 2013, the BRI refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting countries along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.
He also said that both sides have shared common views on developing a Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Transport Network to develop dry ports, railways, roads, air connectivity, cross-border electricity transmission and information technology for better connectivity between the two neighbours and ensuring sustainable common development.
Apart from meeting his counterpart Wang, Gyawali had also called on Chinese vice-president Wang Qishan.
During his visit to China, Gyawali had also held meetings with provincial leaders in Chengdu and delivered a speech at a programme held in his honour at Sichuwan University before his arrival back home today.
Delivering a lecture on Nepal-China Relations and Development Projects in the Trans-Himalayan Region at Sichuwan University in Chengdu, Gyawali appreciated China’s efforts at forging co-operative links between the countries in the region and beyond under the framework of BRI, reads the Foreign Ministry statement.
"Chinese investors may utilise the investment opportunities in Nepal for mutual benefits,” he said, assuring that Nepal government is fully committed to providing security to Chinese investors.

त्रिदेशीय आर्थिक करिडोरको प्रस्ताव

चीनले नेपाल र भारतसहितको त्रिदेशीय आर्थिक करिडोर निर्माणका लागि बहुआयामिक सञ्जाल विस्तार गर्न प्रस्ताव अघि सारेको छ । चीन भ्रमणमा रहेका परराष्ट्रमन्त्री प्रदीप ज्ञवालीसँगको भेटपछि बेइजिङमा पत्रकारलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै चिनियाँ विदेशमन्त्री वाङ यीले हिमालयपार सम्पर्क सञ्जाल बनाउने समझदारी भएको र त्यो तीन देशबीचको आर्थिक करिडोर बन्नसक्ने बताएका हुन् ।
“हामीलाई विश्वास छ राम्ररी विकास गरिएमा त्यस्तो सम्पर्क सन्जालले चीन, नेपाल र भारतलाई जोड्ने आर्थिक करिडोर बन्ने परिस्थिति सिर्जना गर्न सक्छ,” उनले भने, “यस्तोखालको सहकार्यले तीनै देशको विकास र समृद्धिमा योगदान गर्न सक्छ भन्ने हामीलाई आशा छ ।”
ज्ञवालीसँगको संयुक्त पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा वाङले नेपाल र चीनले यसअघि नै बेल्ट र रोड परियोजनामा हस्ताक्षर गरिसकेको स्मरण गर्दै यसमा कनेक्टिभीटीमा सहकार्य पनि एक अंश भएको बताए । बेल्ट र रोड परियोजनामा दुई देशलाई जलमार्ग, रेलमार्ग, राजमार्ग, हवाईमार्ग, उर्जा र सञ्चारबाट दुई देशलाई जोड्ने योजना समावेश रहेको छ । यस्तै, वाङले उक्त अवसरमा तिब्बत हुँदै नेपाल जोड्ने रेलमार्ग निर्माणाधिन रहेको पनि जानकारी दिए । संयुक्त पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा परराष्ट्रमन्त्री ज्ञवालीले भेटवार्तामा नेपाल र चीनबीच हिमालय पार रेल्वे निर्माणको सम्भाव्यता छिट्टै अध्ययनबारे छलफल भएको बताए ।
“व्यापार र परिवाहन सम्झौताको प्रोटोकल ड्राफ्ट गर्नका लागि छलफललाई तीव्रता दिने र यसलाई चाँडै तात्विक निष्कर्षमा पु¥याउने विषयमा पनि समझदारी भएको छ,” ज्ञवालीले भने ।
परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालयले जारी गरेको विज्ञप्तिमा नेपाल र चीन जोड्ने रेलमार्गका लागि केरुङ काठमाडौँ र काठमाडौं–पोखरा–लुम्बिनी रेलमार्गको सम्भाव्यता अध्ययन र डीपीआर तयार गर्ने विषयमा पनि दुई नेताबीच छलफल भएको जनाएको छ । साथै, वाङसँगको भेटमा मन्त्री ज्ञवालीले भविष्यमा दुई देशबीच थप नाकाहरू खुला गर्नुपर्ने र रसुवागढी–केरुङ र तातोपानी नाकाको स्तरोन्नति तथा तातोपानी नाका चाँडो खुलाउने विषयमा पनि कुराकानी भएको परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालयले जानकारी दिएको छ । यस्तै, दुई वर्षअघि प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीको चीन भ्रमणका क्रममा भएका सम्झौताको कार्यान्वयनको पनि भेटमा समीक्षा भएको पनि जनाएको छ । प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीको चीन भ्रमणको तयारीका लागि ज्ञवाली सोमबार ६ दिने चीन भ्रमणमा पुगेका हुन् ।

China proposes trilateral economic corridor including India

China has proposed both India and Nepal to form a trilateral economic corridor.
Calling on India to get involved in its connectivity projects with Nepal to support the landlocked country's development in a bid to downplay concerns over rivalry between the two Asian giants.
Addressing a joint press meet in Beijing – after meeting visiting Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today said that the trilateral economic corridor will help expand trans Himalayan connectivity.
Yi, who is also state councillor, on the occasion, said that the trans Himalayan connectivity will help create trilateral economic corridor.
Nepal largely depends on India for trade, which some of the Indian experts also explain as India’s sphere of influence apart from its security concerns. According to Indian experts, Nepal has increasingly been leaning towards northern neighbour especially since election last year that saw left alliance – popularly claimed as pro-Chinese – win the majority.
Since last few years, foreign direct investment (FDI) from China has also been exceeding compared to from India fuelling the Indian suspicion more.
Reminding the signing of Belt and Road Initiavities (BRI) last year between Nepal and China, Yi also called on both the countries to speed up their connectivity projects – from rail and road to aviation, communications and electricity – to create conditions that would be favourable for eventually building an economic corridor between China, Nepal and India.
BRI comprises of air, road, rail and communication connectivity apartfrom energy cooperation between Nepal and China, he said, informing that the railways is being under construction that will reach Nepal border. "Whether it’s China or India, our two countries shall be happy to see Nepal’s new development after its political transition."
Responding to the Chinese railway linking China-Nepal border Kerung and Kathmandu and Pokhara, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – last week during Prime Minister K P Oli's India visit – vows to connect Kathmandu to Raxual through Indian rail network to pursue ‘common destiny’.
On the occasion, Gyawali said that Beijing and Kathmandu had agreed to start work on a feasibility study to build a railway from the Tibetan border town of Kerung to Kathmandu, and from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Lumbini.
“We share common views on a trans Himalayas, multi-dimensional transport network in the long term,” he said, adding that Beijing and Kathmandu also agreed to deepen political trust. "I reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the one-China policy. We have the policy of non-interference in the internal relations of any other countries."
Gyawali earlier met vice president Wang Qishan at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing. According to a press release issued by Nepali Embassy in Beijing, Gyawali conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and said that Nepal appreciates President Xi Jinping’s vision of ‘building a community of shared future for humanity,’ and supports China’s thrust on enhancing cooperation among nations under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Gyawali’s visit comes a little over a week after Oli travelled to New Delhi. He is on his first visit to Beijing after the government led by Oli came to power in February. Oli was supposed to visit China immediately after India but he rushed to India escaping The Boao Forum that has seen high profile participation from Nepal ever year. Thus, Gyawali’s visit is a precursor to Oli’s first visit to China after taking over the premiership. During his earlier tenure as premier in 2016, Oli had signed multiple deals with China to use Chinese roads and ports, aimed reducing landlocked Nepal’s dependence on India for trade and transit.
Beijing and Kathmandu also agreed to expedite the implementation of all agreements and understandings reached in the past, including those concluded during the visit of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in March 2016 and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in March 2017.
According to the press note from Foreign Ministry, the two sides today agreed to establish a coordination and implementation mechanism for facilitating the effective implementation of the Chinese government-aided projects. They held discussions on achieving an enhanced level of bilateral co-operation in the development of infrastructure, transportation networks, trade, tourism and people-to-people relations under the BRInitiative, and agreed to identify projects for cooperation under the Initiative.
Discussion was also held on conducting the feasibility study and preparation of DPR of Nepal-China Cross Border Railway line from Kerung to Kathmandu, and Pokhara and Lumbini. 

नेपाल–भारत रेल सम्पर्क विस्तारमा जोड

नयाँदिल्ली: नेपाल र भारतले जयनगर–बिजुलपुर–बर्दिवास तथा जोगवनी–विराटनगर रेल सेवा आगामी वर्षभित्रै सम्पन्न हुने विश्वास लिएका छन् ।
भारतको ५ दिने औपचारिक भ्रमणमा रहेका प्रधानमन्त्री शेरबहादुर देउवा र उनका समकक्षी नरेन्द्र मोदीबीच हैदरावाद हाउसमा भएको एक्लाएक्लै वार्तापछि जारी गरिएको संयुक्त विज्ञप्तिमा दुई देश बीचको व्यापार तथा सम्पर्कमा वृद्धि गर्न तथा पर्यटनको प्रवद्र्धन गर्न दुई देशबीचको सम्पर्क सञ्जाल विस्तारमा छलफल भएको जनाइएको छ ।
यस्तै, न्यू जलपाइगुडी–काकरभिट्टा, नौतनवा–भैरहवा तथा नेपालगञ्ज रोडदेखि नेपालगञ्जबीचको रेललाइनको पनि छिट्टै सर्भे गरेर काम सुरु गर्ने सहमति भएको छ । विराटनगरको एकीकृत भन्सार चौकीको कामको प्रगति सन्तोषजनक रहेको भन्दै छिट्टै नै भैरहवा तथा नेपालगञ्जमा पनि एकीकृत भन्सार चौकी स्थापनाको अध्ययन गर्ने पनि जनाइएको छ ।
अरुण तेस्रो परियोजनामा रहेको भूमिको समस्या समाधान गरेर शिलान्यासका लागि नेपालका प्रधानमन्त्री देउवाले भरतीय समकक्षीलाई निमन्त्रणा गरेका छन् । पञ्चेश्वर परियोजनाको डीपीआरको काम अगाडि बढाउने अन्तिम तयारी भइरहेको पनि विज्ञप्तिमा जनाइएको छ ।
साथै, भारतले सीमा क्षेत्रमा डुबानको समस्या हल गर्न एक–अर्काको हित हुने गरी समन्वयमा मात्र बाँध र ब्यारेजहरू निर्माण गरिने प्रतिबद्धता पनि जाहेर गरेको छ भने बौद्ध तथा रामायण पर्यटकीय सर्किट बनाउने योजना रहेको पनि विज्ञप्तिमा जनाइएको छ ।
यसअघि प्रधानमन्त्री शेरबहादुर देउवा र उनका समकक्षी नरेन्द्र मोदीबीच हैदरावाद हाउसमा भएको एक्लाएक्लै वार्ता र प्रतिनिधि मण्डलस्तरीय वार्तापछि दुवै प्रधानमन्त्रीको उपस्थितिमा ८ समझदारी पत्रमा पनि हस्ताक्षर भएको छ ।
दुई प्रधानमन्त्रीले रिमोट थिचेर कटैया, कुशाहा र रक्सौल परवानीपुर प्रसारण लाइनको उद्घाटन पनि गरेका छन् । यो लाइनबाट थप एक सय मेगावाट विद्युत् भारतले नेपाललाई दिनेछ । नेपाल तथा भारतबीच हस्ताक्षर भएका ८ मध्ये ४ समझदारी पत्र भूकम्पपछि भारतले नेपाललाई दिने भनिएको सहयोगको विषयमा रहेको राष्ट्रिय पुननिर्माण प्राधिकरणका प्रमुख कार्यकारी अधिकृत गोविन्द पोखरेलले जानकारी दिए ।
भूकम्पपछिको पुनर्निर्माण लागि भारतले घोषणा गरेको १ खर्ब रूपैयाँको प्रयोग र अर्को स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा र पुरातात्विक सम्पदा पुननिर्माणसम्वन्धी रहेकोमा चार समझदारी २ सय ५० बिलियन अर्थात २ खर्ब २० अर्ब रूपैयाँ बराबरको भएको पोखरेलले जानकारी दिए ।
नेपालले यसमध्ये एउटा समझदारीपत्र ५० हजार घर पुनर्निर्माणको मोडालिटीका विषयमा रहेको तथा अर्को समझदारीपत्र शैक्षिक क्षेत्रमा भूकम्पपछि पुनर्निमाणको विषयमा रहेको छ । अन्य २ समझदारी पत्र सांस्कृतिक सम्पदा र शिक्षा क्षेत्रको रहेको हस्ताक्षरकर्ता अर्थसचिव डा. शान्तराज सुवेदीले कारोबारलाई बताए ।
भूकम्पसम्बन्धी यी चारवटा एमओयूमा नेपालका तर्फबाट अर्थसचिव डा.सुवेदी र भारतका तर्फबाट विदेशसचिव एस जयशंकरले हस्ताक्षर गरेका थिए । अर्को समझदारीपत्रअनुसार मेची नदीमा बनाउने फराकिलो पुल बनाउन भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायातसचिव देवेन्द्र कार्की र भारतका तर्फबाट रोड ट्रान्सपोर्ट एन्ड हाइवेज सचिव युद्धवीर सिंहले हस्ताक्षर गरे ।
यस्तै, लागू औषधको व्यापार रोक्ने समझदारीपत्रमा गृहसचिव लोकदर्शन रेग्मी र भारतीय अर्थ मन्त्रालयका रेभेन्यु सेक्रेटरी हसमुख अधियाले हस्ताक्षर गरे भने स्ट्यान्डराइजेसन एन्ड कन्फर्मिटी एसेसमेन्ट सहयोग सम्झौतामा नेपाल गुणस्तर तथा मापदण्ड ब्युरोका महानिर्देशक विश्वबाबु पुडासैनी र भारतीय समकक्षी सन्जय सिंहले हस्ताक्षर गरेका थिए ।
भ्रमणले नेपाल तथा भारतबीचको समझदारी बढेको तथा दुई देशबीचको विश्वास तथा भाईचारमा वृद्धि भएको प्रधानमन्त्रीका परराष्ट्र सल्लाहकार दिनेश भट्टराइले दावी गरे पनि नेपाल तथा प्रधानमन्त्री देउवाको विशेष चासो रहेका पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना तथा नेपाली ग्यास बुलेटले भारतबाट ग्यास ओसार्नेसम्बन्धमा भने कुनै प्रगति नभएको वार्तामा सहभागी एक नेपाली अधिकारीले बताए ।
यसैबीच, लामो समयदेखि रोकिएको दुई देशका चार्टर्ड एकाउन्टेन्ट इन्स्टिच्युटहरूबीचको समझदारीमा पनि हस्ताक्षर भएको छ । त्यसमा नेपालका तर्फबाट इन्स्टिच्युटका अध्यक्ष प्रकाश थापा र भारतका तर्फबाट निलेश भिकाम्सेले हस्ताक्षर गरेका थिए भने म्यानेजमेन्ट एसोसिएसन अफ नेपाल तथा पीएचडी एसोसिएसन भारतबीच पनि सम्झौता भएको छ ।
यसका साथै प्रधानमन्त्री देउवाले भारतीय समकक्षी मोदीलाई नेपालमा सबै पक्षको सहमतिमासंविधान संशोधन गर्ने बचन दिएका छन् ।समझदारीपत्रमा हस्ताक्षरपछि पत्रकारलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री मोदीले नेपालसँग भारतको सुरक्षा चासो प्राथमिकतामा रहेको जनाए पनि यसको मूर्त व्याख्या भने गरेनन् ।
यस्तै मोदीले स्थानीय चुनावको स्वागत गरे तर विगतमा जस्तै सबैसँग सम्वाद गर्दै सबैको आकांक्षा समाहित गरी संविधान सफलतापूर्वक लागू हुने विश्वास गरे ।मोदीपछि सम्बोधन गर्दै देउवाले सरकारले संविधान सबैको स्वीकार बनाउन चाहेको भन्दै संसदमा दुई तिहाई बहुमत पु¥याउन नसकेर असफल भए पनि प्रयाश जारी रहने बताए ।

भ्रमणमा के भयो,  के  भएन ?
अरुण तेस्रो शिलान्यासमा मोदीलाई निम्ता
सीमा क्षेत्रमा एकअर्काको समन्वयमा मात्र बाँध र ब्यारेज निर्माण
बौद्ध तथा रामायण पर्यटकीय सर्किट बनाइने
कटैया, कुशाहा र रक्सौल परवानीपुर प्रसारण लाइन उद्घाटन
पञ्चेश्वर र नेपाली ग्यास बुलेटको समस्या सम्बोधन भएन

Railway department extends deadline of Ktm-Birgunj railway global tender

The Department of Railways (DoR) has extended the deadline of the global tender to study feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Birgunj Railway Line by a week.
“We have extended the deadline till January 9,” said a senior divisional engineer with the department Prakash Upadhyaya.
The consultant will get six months to conduct feasibility study, prepare preliminary cost estimate, and recommend the best technical, financial and economical routes from the six months of the selection. It will also have to propose three routes for the railway line and recommend the best one.
According to the department, it started the process to conduct feasibility study of Kathmandu-Birgunj railway line as the service will be cheaper, environment-friendly and consumes less time. Birgunj is a major trading point for Nepal as over 70 per cent of its international trade is done through this customs point.
Upadhyay also said that the railway line would be important to connect Birgunj and Rasuwagadhi with the rail networks. “The department is taking forward the construction of north-south rail networks as the work for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Mechi-Mahakali Railway has already begun,” he added.

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.

Nepal-India Transit Treaty renewed without changes

The Nepal-India Transit Treaty has been renewed without any changes to the existing treaty, though Nepal had been seeking some changes that could have facilitated trade with other countries in and outside the region.

"The transit treaty has been renewed without any changes," according to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. The bilateral treaty — earlier renewed seven years back in 2006 March — was set to expire on January 5.

"The treaty has a provision of automatic renewal, until and unless either side needs to add or remove certain provisions," the ministry said, adding that Nepal, had, though sought some changes.

While preparing for the renewal, Nepal had asked India to provide access to five more trade and transit routes between Vishakapatnam sea port and four major customs, rail route between Birgunj dry port and Vishakapatnam, and Rohanpur-Singhabad-Jogbani and Phulbari-Banglabandha.

The Nepali team had also sought an optional port for trade facilitation, which India had also agreed to in principle. The ministry had sent a formal request to New Delhi for a renewal of the transit treaty with changes through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But in the last hour, claiming that India's proposal of imposing additional lock on containers ferrying third country consignments will be against international norms and undermine Nepal's transit rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to it, though the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and importers have been saying that additional lock will not create any hassles.

President of Nepal Freight Forwarders Association Rajan Sharma opined that the country could have gained more, had the treaty seen some changes.

The bilateral transit treaty that confers transit rights through each other’s territory through mutually agreed routes and modalities has offered Nepal 22 transit routes from Kolkata/Haldia for third country trade. "Goods can move by road or rail," it states, adding that the establishment of an inland container depot in Birgunj and extension of the railway line from Raxaul to Birgunj has facilitated direct movement of goods in transit by rail to Nepal.

India has extended Nepal direct transit routes to Bangladesh for bilateral and third country traffic under the treaty that has notified road route through Kakarbitta-Panitanki-Phulbari-Banglabandha corridor and rail route through Radhikapur-Birol interchange point on India-Bangladesh border.

India — the largest trade partner and source of foreign investment — is also the only transit providing country for Nepal.

Nepal’s transit trade is routed through 22 designated routes from India-Nepal border to the port of Kolkata/Haldia. In addition, Nepal’s trade with and through Bangladesh also transits through India.

New Delhi is also providing assistance for the development of cross-border trade related infrastructure including upgradation of four major customs checkpoints at Birgunj-Raxaul, Biratnagar-Jogbani, Bhairahawa-Sunauli and Nepalgunj-Rupediya to international standards, upgradation approach highways to the border on the Indian side, upgradation and expansion of the road network in the Tarai region and broad gauging and extending rail links.

Delay in land acquisition hits Fast Track

Delay in land acquisition has hit the Fast Track construction, according to a sub-committee under parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The sub-committee that was formed to carry out study on Fast Track construction has concluded that land acquisition process has lingered unexpectedly.
Though the government had allocated Rs 936.3 million for the land acquisition, only Rs 84 million worth land acquisition has been completed, the report submitted to the PAC said, directing the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works — that has been shouldering the responsibility of construction — to accelerate the land acquisition process and pay compensation to the land owners as soon as possible.
It has asked the ministry to form a separate office in Hetauda to speed up the land acquisition process in Makawanpur district. The report has also suggested Nepal Army to amend its guideline for the construction according to other laws and regulation of the government. "The army should form a technical committee to make relevant changes in its construction guideline, it suggested, recommending the army to adopt austerity while hiring equipments while constructing the fast track.
Nepal Army spent Rs 127.9 million except fuel to hire equipment last year alone, the report said. "The amount could have been reduced, had the army brought the equipments itself."
The sub-committee has also raised questions regarding missing timbers from the construction site. A total of 15,503 cubic feet of timber has been disappeared from the government forest and 2,612 cubic feet of timber has been missing from community forests, the report stated, directing the District Forestry Office to investigate into the disappearances.
The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works had, in 2008, projected a total of Rs 57.09 billion to construct a four-lane Fast Track that will connect the capital city with Tarai plains. Later, it has increased Rs 10 billion in its preliminary estimation to a total of Rs 67 billion to complete the priority project.

Broad-gauge railway expansion
KATHMANDU: Public Accounts Committee under the Legislature Parliament on Monday directed Finance Ministry to earmark budget for the land acquisition to construct new railway track to connect Rani Sikiyahi and Biratnagar. "The committee directed the Finance Ministry to provide budget to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works or to transfer the fund,” it said, directing the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to complete the land acquisition and compensation distribution process within a month.