Kathmandu, December 12 In the process of expediting the Kathmandu-Birgunj Electric Railway Project, the Department of Railways (DoRW) is all set to select the consultant for the feasibility study of the project. In this regard, the DoRW is evaluating the technical and financial proposals of six short-listed firms. The DoRW has short-listed six international bidders and asked them to submit financial and technical proposals. According to Prakash Upadhyaya, spokesperson for the department, DoRW will select the consultant within January 15. “We are analysing the technical proposal of the bidders, following which, we will examine their financial proposal,” Upadhyaya informed. DoRW will select the lowest bidder as per the provision of Public Procurement Act. Moreover, as per the act, the bidder should submit the technical and financial proposals separately so that the technical proposal can be analysed before looking into the financial proposal submitted by the bidders. The DoRW had short-listed the six international bidders to prepare the feasibility study report of the mega project on July 15. “We plan to finalise the feasibility study within six months of selection of the consultant,” Upadhyaya stated. The short-listed bidders include Cheil Engineering Korea; China Railway First Survey and Design Institute; Soosung Engineering Korea; consortium of Yooshin Engineering Corporation and Korea Railroad Research Institute and Full Bright Consultancy; Third Railway Survey and Design Institute Group and Tractebel Engineering; and China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group. The DoRW had selected the aforementioned six international companies for final competition out of the total 10 bidders. As per Upadhyaya, the consultant would also have to suggest the best technical and financial options for the project along with the preliminary cost estimate. The government had planned to finalise the feasibility study of this project in the last fiscal year, 2016-17. However, the delay in consultant selection process has affected its progress. The railway would directly link the Capital with the major trading destination of the country. Likewise, it would boost the connectivity between Kathmandu and Tarai.