The notice inviting the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of a metro railway in the valley has been canceled. The Metro Rail and Monorail Development Project under the Railway Department had invited the notice on 1 Jestha to select an international consultant to prepare the DPR after selecting a specific route. The time was set until 1 Ashar. Later, it was extended to 8 Ashar. But the next day, on 9 Ashar, the notice was canceled.

The Railway Department has put the notice on its website stating that the notice has been canceled for the time being, citing technical reasons. The department, however, has stated that the notice has been canceled for the time being as per the request of donor agencies. After various donor agencies came to discuss the matter at their own expense and issue the notice, the notice has been canceled for now, said Harikumar Pokharel, Director General of the Railway Department.

‘Initially, we had issued a notice to conduct the DPR at our own expense. After issuing the notice, various donor agencies expressed interest,’ said Director General Pokharel. ‘Since the donor agencies that came in contact were interested in conducting the DPR at their own expense, we have decided to cancel the notice for the time being.’ According to the department, companies including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC Corporation), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have expressed interest.

A department source said that JICA has shown even more interest. Pokharel claims that the notice was stopped because the donor agency is ready to invest in the study. The department canceled the notice only after discussions in the ministry. "JICA is preparing a master plan for the entire transportation system of Kathmandu," he said. "JICA has also expressed interest in preparing a DPR for the metro rail." JICA will prepare a master plan and submit it to the government by August. He said that the cost of construction will be known after the DPR is prepared.

Metro in Kathmandu: Government finally gets the go-ahead for construction

‘It is necessary to run a metro rail as an alternative to traffic jams in Kathmandu,’ said Director General Pokharel. ‘We have verbally agreed with the donor agency to conduct a study with our own funds, but we will select a good company and entrust the study only after completing all the procedures.’ The notice issued earlier mentioned that a DPR would be conducted for a distance of 27.5 kilometers from Narayangopal Chowk, connecting it to Narayangopal Chowk via Chabahil, Koteshwor, Satdobato, Ratnapark.

For that, a notice was called to select a consultant. According to the initial study conducted in 2011/12 with the investment of the Government of Nepal, Line One was planned to go from Narayan Gopal Chowk to Satdobato and from there to the Ring Road as Line Three. 

A feasibility study conducted by a Korean company in 2011/12 clarified the possibility of operating a metro rail in the valley. The study stated that it was possible to operate a metro rail along 77 km of the valley. After that, no further study was conducted. Although attempts were made to conduct a DPR-level study, no further work could be done. According to the study conducted by the Korean company, it was found that there was a possibility of placing poles above the road at 52 km and underground metro rail at 25 km.