Selection of firm for railway DPR soon

The government is preparing to select an international firm for carrying out detailed project report (DPR) of Bardibas-Simara stretch of the proposed Mechi-Mahakali Electric Railway and its Simara-Birgunj link. A total of 16 firms have submitted the expression of interest (EoI) to execute this job.

Ram Kumar Lamsal, chief of the Railway Construction Project—the proposed Railway Department—said they will shortlist three to six firms for request for proposal within next two weeks. “We will select the firms based on the Public Procurement Act,” he added.


The project is also set to select an international firm to conduct feasibility study of Mass Rapid System (underground and elevated railway) in Kathmandu. The project has received EoIs from 16 interventional firms. It had invited EoI from experienced interventional firms for both the studies in March.

Firms from Canada, India, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Spain and France have expressed interest to prepare the detailed study and design of the electrified railway line for Simara-Bardibas (102km)—a section of the Mechi- Mahakali Electric Railway—and Simara-Birgunj (34km)—a link for the Mechi-Mahakali Railway—to connect with the Indian Railway Network in Birgunj.

Lamsal said they will soon shortlist the firms and forward to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for final consent. “We will receive RFP from selected firms and select a company after evaluation of technical and financial proposals,” he added. The selected consultant for the DPR will prepare detailed design, estimate construction cost and prepare bid documents.

The project has targeted to complete the consultant selection process by August and get final report in May next year. It is planning to call EoI soon for DPR of Mechi section of the Mechi-Mahakali Electric Railway.

The project is also planning to complete the feasibility study of the underground and elevated railway system (75 km) in Kathmandu within a year. Lamsal said if the government allocates required fund in the upcoming budget, the project will carry out DPR of some sections of the railway system to be constructed in the Capital next year.

In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 810 million for railway construction and development of a metro railway system in Kathmandu. The government has targeted to complete the construction of the ambitious Mechi-Mahakali and Pokhara-Kathmandu Electric Railway within the next 10 years. The project is estimated to cost Rs 800 billion.