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Nepal proposes trans-Himalayan railwayFriday - 16th September 2005 |
| By Sudeshna Sarkar, Kathmandu: Nepal has proposed a cross-country railway line from the south of the country to the north near the Tibetan border, a move that could boost trade and tourism between the Himalayan kingdom, India and China. King Gyanendra announced the ambitious trans-Himalayan electric railway plan while touring southern Bara district Thursday. The railway line will run from Birgunj city in southern Nepal near the Indian border through this capital city to Tatopani in the north near the Tibetan border. "The concept of an electric railway linking Birgunj to Kathmandu to Tatopani should be implemented to develop Nepal as a transit point between the two neighbouring countries," Gyanendra said. Nepal currently has a lone railhead running from Janakpur city in Dhanusha district in southeastern Nepal to Jaynagar in India. However, it is yet to be utilised due to the delay in converting it from narrow gauge to meter gauge and confusion about an appropriate railway act. Two factors make the Birgunj-Kathmandu-Tatopani railway concept attractive. With China building a railhead up to Lhasa and Xigatse in Tibet, Nepal's remote northern districts, where road connection is poor, hope to cash in on the new connectivity. Also, with China and India having agreed to boost bilateral trade and Nepal offering itself as a transit corridor, an extended trans-Himalayan railway network covering India, Nepal and China would slash transport costs for passengers as well as freight. Birgunj, the commercial capital of Nepal through which a high volume of Indo-Nepal trade moves, has a dry port that would facilitate the movement of goods. Shankar Prasad Sharma, vice-chairman of Nepal's National Planning Commission, told IANS that the commission had approved in principle of the feasibility of a rail track. The infrastructure and physical planning ministry is studying the proposal. According to Nepal's former finance minister Prakash Chandra Lohani, a trans-Himalayan railway from China to India via Kathmandu would be a "win-win situation for all three countries". "For India the projected rapid growth in trade in the future with China plus the objective of reducing the economic imbalance between the north eastern states and the rest of the country would make the new trade route highly attractive," Lohani said. "The Trans-Himalayan railroad (will) lead to increased trade and enhancement in the competitiveness of the whole region which will raise the income and wealth of the people, most of whom are below the poverty line. The proposed railway could be part of the regional development plans and poverty alleviation strategy of each nation." Lohani estimates the railway from Birgunj to Kathmandu would cost between Nepali Rs.12-15 billion and is within the capability of private investors in Nepal and the Nepalese financial system. International lending institutions could also be roped in for a loan component of up to 50 percent of the cost, he said. He also suggested that the equity capital could come from establishing a new company with equal contribution by the private/public sector of all the three countries. Sharma said two entrepreneurs have already applied for a possible Build-Operate-Own-Transfer system for the proposed electric railway. |
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