To implement these programs, the Department of Railway (DoR) had demanded around Rs 7 billion from the government for the current fiscal year. With the money, the department had said it would lay railway tracks in Biratnagar, linking it with the Indian railway network, extend the tracks of Jainagar-Janakpur railway up to Bardibas, complete pre-feasibility study of Metro and monorail for Kathmandu and develop detail project report (DPR) for the East-West Electrical Highway.[break]
However, contrary to the euphoria amid which the department was established, the government allocated just Rs Rs 140 million to the department this year.
Worse still, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) - the line ministry overseeing the department - will soon be without senior officials who are considered well-versed in railway matters. Its Secretary Purna Kadaria is on leave currently and will also retire this month. The then joint-secretary Tulsi Prasad Sitaula, who had deep knowledge about the railways, has been transferred as the Regional Administrator of the Western Development Region last month.
Ram Kumar Lamsal, director general of DoR, told Republica that the budget allocated only Rs 40 million for the acquisition of land for the proposed Biratnagar-Jogbani railway line and Jainagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railways. Similarly, Rs 100 million has been set aside for the feasibility study of metro rail and DPR of East-West Railway.
“We had demanded Rs 800 million for acquisition of land for Biratnagar-Jogbani railway, and Jainagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railway, but the government has pledged us only Rs 40 million. How can we implement the programs with such a meager amount,” Lamsal asked.
To implement these projects, the department has identified it would need to acquire 298 bighas (about 202 hectares) along Jogbani-Biratnagar route and 112 bighas (about 76 Ha) along Jainagar-Janakpur- Bardibas route. However, as the government has not acquired the land, India that committed to support the developing of DPRs has delayed the DPRs, which are needed to implement the projects.
Given the situation, DoR has requested the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to provide it Rs 1.5 billion so that it can complete at least the land acquisition. However, MoF has not responded so far.
"We have heard MoF officials are ready to transfer Rs 350 million allocated for the Kathmandu-Tarai fasttrack project to the railway department as the project has not been able to use the money since last year. But we are yet to get formal confirmation about it," said a source.
Nepal had geared up for cross-border railway network mainly after India in 2005 agreed to support Nepal for the construction of railway links between Kakarvitta and New Jalpaigudi, Biratnagar and Jogbani, Nepalgunj and Nepalgunj Road, Bhairahawa and Nautanawa, and Jainagar-Janakpur and Bardibas. The agreement was signed with a motive to boost bilateral trade.
As a part of this plan, the two sides had again signed an agreement in February last year to first complete the construction of Jogbani-Biratnagar and Jainagar-Janakpur-Bijalpura-Bardibas railway network. The cost for these two lines was estimated at Rs 2.08 billion and Rs 5.69 billion respectively.
Under the agreement, India has promised to conduct DPR of the projects and support the construction works while Nepal had agreed to acquire land needed for the construction. If Nepal acquired the land, India had promised it would provide Rs 600 million this year to start construction works.
“But lack of top officials with expertise in MoPPW has narrowed the chances of an immediate beginning of the projects,” said Lamsal.
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