Chinese team arrives in Nepal for feasibility study of cross-border railway

December 28, Kathmandu: A high-level team comprising experts arrived in Kathmandu from China on Tuesday for the feasibility study and survey of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway.

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 the 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’.

The Spokesperson of the Department, Aman Chitrakar, said that the feasibility study process will be advanced in collaboration with the Chinese experts and the Department.

The Chinese side considers the feasibility study as a detailed project report (DPR), according to Chitrakar.

Earlier, the Government of Nepal had urged the Chinese side to carry out the feasibility study. However, the 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 the Nepali people and an important consensus reached by leaders of our two countries, the Chinese 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 had given priority to Nepal’s aspirations and needs in this regard, and would 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 to building a trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network, according to the press statement.