Rites, the Indian government´s undertaking, agreed on Wednesday to carry out the study of East-west (1,200 km) and Kathmandu-Pokhara railway at the cost of Rs 85 million.
“As per the agreement, Rites will have to being study works within a month of signing agreement and has to submit the feasibility report to the government by July next year,” Tulsi Prasaid Sitaula, joint secretary at the MoPPW, told myrepublica.com on Thursday.
According to sources, Rites will give the government three options based on construction cost, technology and routes of the proposed electric railway within two weeks and the government will select best mode of construction as per the proposal.
“Meter gauge railway can be the best option for Nepal as broad gauge is not financial viable and narrow gauge is already an old technology,” Sitaula added.
As per the agreement, two Nepali engineers and other technical staff will also be engaged for the feasibility study so as to learn from technological expertise of Rites. Nepali consultant -- Silt Consultant -- will also be involved in the study, while the MoPPW will supervise and monitor the study process.
The MoPPW selected Rites Limited (India) as per the recommendation of a high-level evaluation panel that studied the financial and technical proposals submitted by four international firms -- Rites Limited (India), SMEC International Pvt Ltd (Australia), Wilbur Smith Associates (USA) and Chungsuk Engineering Co Ltd (South Korea) -- to conduct the feasibility study of billion-dollar project. The panel made the recommendation on the basis of Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) system after examining the financial and technical proposals submitted by the firms.
Nineteen global consultant firms had submitted their Expression of Interest (EoI) to conduct feasibility study of the much-hyped railway line. The bidding firms had proposed cost of the study in the range of Rs 80 million to Rs 120 million. Rites had proposed Rs 80 million.
Through the budget for the fiscal year 2008/09, the government had allocated Rs 150 million for the feasibility study of both the projects as well as widening and upgrading of Jaynagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railway line. The government, however, has allocated ´necessary budget´ for the study of railway lines in this fiscal year.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
Related story
Agreement signed to study the feasibility of fertilizer factory
