KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea on cooperation for development of railway in Nepal. Both the governments have already approved the draft MoU to be signed in this regard.
The agreement is basically expected to help Nepal receive support in capacity development, skill enhancement of government officials, and technology transfer in railway sector. Currently, the government is working on mega railway projects like East-West or Mechi-Mahakali Electric Railway and Kathmandu Metro.
According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), a delegation from Korea will visit Nepal to sign the MoU once an appropriate date is fixed. “Korea will fix the date and once we approve it, the MoU will be signed in Nepal,” said Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at the MoPIT.
Sitaula said that the agreement would be a ‘basic understanding on mutual cooperation’ for the railway sector’s development and based on it, a committee will be formed — one each in Nepal and Korea. “Specific areas of cooperation will be decided later and the committees will meet once a year to discuss on railway affairs,” he added.
In August 2012, during the visit of a high level government delegation of Nepal to Korea, both countries had agreed in principle to sign an MoU. However; the agreement signing has been taking time due to procedures like approving the draft MoU, changes in the railway related law and failure to fix appropriate date for both sides.
MoPIT said the agreement would be significant in developing a national railway network, carrying out studies and imparting training to enhance technical skills of government officials who do not have knowledge of working in the railway sector. Korean government has been showing keen interest in helping Nepal to develop its railways since long.
Presently, the government is carrying out detailed project report (DPR) of different sections of the proposed East-West railway by hiring consultants that also include Korean companies. The planned East-West railway is 945.24-km long and link Kakarbhitta, Jhapa in the east with Gaddachouki, Mahendranagar in the west. The line will pass through Itahari, Bardibas, Simara, Tamsariya, Bhairahawa, Lumbini, Butwal, Kohalpur and Attariya.
A total of Rs 1.4 billion has been allocated for carrying out DPR, providing compensation to land owners and start railway construction in the current fiscal year. The Department of Railway said that the DPR of Simara-Tamsariya and Tamsariya-Bhairahawa-Butwal was going on and it has been preparing to start the DPR of 420-km railway line falling on western part from Butwal within the current fiscal year. The DPR of Bardibas-Simara-Birgunj section (136-km) of the proposed East-West railway had been completed last year.
See more at: http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Nepal%26sbquo%3B+SKorea+gear+up+to+sign+agreement&NewsID=410608#sthash.pTkBby5u.dpuf
No comments:
Post a Comment