Kathmandu, June 13

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) has finalised the projects related to it that will be discussed with the Chinese government during the upcoming state visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to the northern neighbour from June 19.

The MoPIT has forwarded the final list of projects to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The list includes two electric railway projects, two bridges and four highways, said Madhusudan Adhikari, secretary of MoPIT.

The MoPIT has included the much-talked about projects like Kathmandu-Kyiong high speed electric railway, Rasuwagadi-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway, Tatopani bridge and Rasuwagadi bridge.

A joint team of Nepali and Chinese experts had conducted a feasibility study of 75-kilometre-long Kathmandu-Kyirong railway on May 22 and the final report is expected to be submitted to the Department of Railways by August.

MoPIT has also proposed double-lane highways like Khadbari-Kimathanka of Koshi corridor, Rasuwagadi-Kathmandu, Gaindakot-Jomsom-Korala of Kaligandaki corridor and Simikot-Hilsa of Karnali corridor.

According to Adhikari, all the proposed projects are of equal importance to Nepal and that Nepal government has proposed including all of them in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“The agreements related to technical and financial modalities of Tatopani and Rasuwagadi bridges are certain to be inked during the prime minister’s visit.”

The proposal to build Nepal-China cross-border bridges had actually been made by China earlier.

In addition, a Nepali delegation is making a proposal to open up more highways for Nepali traders to transport various goods from Tibet. “A Nepali team led by MoPIT joint secretary left for China on Monday, and they are planning to propose opening a new route for trade with Tibet,” Adhikari added.

“We are expecting agreements on some large scale projects during PM Oli’s visit to China,” said Adhikari.

At a glance

• Bridge

  •    Tatopani

  •    Rasuwagadi

• Railway

  •    Kathmandu-Kyirong

  •    Rasuwagadi-Kathmandu- Pokhara-Lumbini

• Highway

  •    Khadbari-Kimathanka

  •    Rasuwagadi-Kathmandu

  •    Gaindakot-Jomsom-Korala

  •    Simikot-Hilsa

Source: MoPit