Monday, October 28, 2019

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.

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