Kathmandu-Tibet Railway Project Stalled

Nepal’s government is yet to initiate formal negotiations with China regarding the Kathmandu-Tibet Railway project.

Why it Matters:

The project could have made considerable progress by now if the government had been interested since it had already received the green light from the China side. The project will be in a state of stasis until the new government makes a decision on the project.

What they’re saying:

• “Nepal is yet to formally request Beijing to start the project. We hope that the new government will take the process forward,” said senior divisional engineer and department spokesperson Prakash Bhakta Upadhyaya.
• Members of the bureaucracy and the public believe that Prime Minister-in-waiting KP Sharma Oli will reinvigorate the project after he assumes office in the months to come.

Backstory:

• In November, 2017, a 23-member Chinese delegation led by China’s National Railway Administration’s Vice-minister Zheng Jian came to Kathmandu to conduct a preliminary study on the development of railway networks in Nepal.
• The delegation had given its green signal to the Kathmandu-Tibet railway line.
• The report also included suggestions that Nepal should expedite the expansion and progression of the highway to Rasuwagadhi and remove hurdles related to the acquisition of forest land for the project.
• Nepal’s government has yet to take any steps to resolve the issues.