Chinese team arrives for feasibility study of Nepal-China cross border railway
Kathmandu: A high-level team of Chinese experts arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday for the feasibility study and survey of Kathmandu-Kerung railway with the grant from China. The Department of Railways said that the Chinese technical team arrived to carry out the feasibility study of the Nepal-China cross border railway adding that the pre-feasibility of the task was already completed.
Likewise, the Embassy of China in Kathmandu also confirmed that team’s arrival stating that ‘the first batch of Chinese experts have arrived in Kathmandu to conduct the feasibility study and survey of the China-Nepal cross-border railway’. Spokesperson of Department Aman Chitrakar said that feasibility study process will be advanced in collaboration with the Chinese experts and the Department.
It is said that the Chinese side considers the feasibility study as the detailed project report (DPR). Earlier, the Government of Nepal had urged the Chinese side to carry out the feasibility study. However, arrival of the Chinese team was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons.
The team will carry out the study on the overall project. To conduct the feasibility study and survey of the China-Nepal cross-border railway has been a long-cherished dream of Nepali people and an important consensus reached by leaders of our two countries, the Embassy said in a statement. The Embassy said that it is also an integral part of jointly building the Belt and Road initiative between China and Nepal adding that China gives priority to Nepal’s aspiration and needs in this regards, and will proactively push ahead with the study. The two countries will maintain close contact and coordination in jointly carrying out the work ahead with a view of building trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network, it is said.
