Cable cars can ease Valley traffic: Promoters

Good news is at the door of Kathmandu residents fed up with daily traffic congestion and worsening pollution. B&S Urban Cable Car will make the dream of capital residents to see hassle-free movement in a clean environment come true if the firm´s plan to operate cable cars materializes.

This will provide an alternative mode of transport in the Valley, which is full of narrow roads and devoid of any underground sub-ways.

B&S Urban Cable, a Nepali firm, is carrying out a detailed study to operate urban cable cars in Kathmandu.

Entrepreneurs Bhawani Rana and Shyam Mohan Shrestha are the promoters of the firm.

“We estimate that the project will cost between Rs 13 billion to Rs 14 billion at current prices. The cost will hover between Rs 15 billion to Rs 20 billion when the project is completed in four years, with the rise in cost of production over the period,” Rana told Republica on Monday.

Rana said the company has submitted a preliminary study to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The firm has sought permission from the government for a detailed study. “We will start the detailed feasibility study once the government gives us the go-ahead,” said Rana.

The company has conducted a preliminary study for operating cable cars from Narayan Gopal Chowk to Lagankhel and from Kuleswor to Boudha, with stops at different places.

As per the preliminary study, it will take 15 to 20 minutes to cover a distance that normally takes one hour, due to traffic jams. “Our study showed that around 200,000 customers can travel daily on both cable car routes," said Shrestha.

If the government grants permission, it will take two years for the company to start construction and another two years to complete it. “If everything goes as per plan we will bring the cable cars into operation in four years,” said Shrestha, adding that the government is positive about the project.

The company plans to import ready-made poles for the cable cars, and they don´t require changing the existing infrastructure.

“If the project succeeds it will change the face of the Valley, making it more beautiful and at the same time environment-friendly,” said Rana.

According to the company, a cable car can carry 25 to 30 persons at a time. Rana said the fares for will be similar to other public transport vehicles.

Rana said many foreign companies have shown interest in working with B&N Urban Cable, and they are currently holding talks with some French companies.

Kathmandu Metro Railway Project

 The government is considering to hand over Kathmandu Metro Railway Project to Nepal Metro Private Limited.  About three months ago, the company had submitted a proposal at the Investment Board (IB) to carry out the detailed study and build the metro railway—a mass rapid transit—in partnership with Korean companies.

A final report on feasibility of the metro railway prepared by the government-hired consultant shows it costs $3.88 billion (Rs 330 billion) for building the metro railway system in the Kathmandu. However, the Nepal Metro has been saying that it would build the metro in Kathmandu investing $ 3 billion.

“If the company signs bond with enough Korean firms and come up with technical and financial capabilities required for this type of project, IB could assign the project to work in joint venture,” said a source at the IB. The source said that the Kathmandu metro, being a huge project, would be decided based on in-depth study over the proposal, feasibility report and its benefit to the government and to investors.

After nearly a year of study, consultants consisting of a consortium of Korean (Chungsuk Engineering Company, Korea Transport Institution, Kunhwa Consulting and Engineering Company, Korea Rail Network Authority) and Nepali (Research Management Consultant Environmental and Building Design Authority) firms recently submitted a final feasibility report to the Railway Department. The report says that it will cost around Rs 330 billion to build a 77-km-long metro system in Kathmandu in next 10 years.

According to officials at the department the Nepal Metro had also assured the IB that it would reimburse to the government Rs 60.5 million spent on the feasibility study. There will be five lines of metro railway—four lines planned for inside the Ring Road and one line of 27.35 km running around the Ring Road.

With no resources for detailed project report (DPR) and less chances of the government undertaking the project in future, the IB was mulling to accept the Nepal Metro’s proposal, according to the IB source. The government, after the completion of feasibility study, was supposed to carry out a detailed study to build the metro railway—also a part of the national priority railway development project.

However, officials at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management said that there was no resource to carry out the DPR due to this year’s budget being limited to two-thirds. “No budget has been allocated for the DPR of the metro railway,” said Tulasi Prasad Situala, secretary at the ministry. He also informed that the IB might entrust the metro project to Nepal Metro after studying the company’s proposal, its Korean parties and capacity.

Earlier, the Ministry of Physical Planning, through the Finance Ministry, had requested the South Korean government and the Asian Development Bank to conduct the DPR for the metro. However, the Railway Department officials said they have not received any response till date.

Development of Kathmandu Metro to cost Rs 330b

 The construction of Kathmandu Metro Railway (KMR) would cost Rs 330 billion (around US$ 3.88 billion) and the project can be developed in 10 years, a preliminary finding of feasibility study report of the KMR said.

A consortium of five Korean and two local companies that carried out the feasibility has tagged government´s involvement in the KMR as mandatory if it seriously wishes to successfully develop and operate the KMR.

"The study team has proposed numerous modality of its development. But no matter which modality the government adopted, the team helds the view that government´s subsidy would be crucial to successfully implement the project," Rajeshwore Man Singh, superintendent engineer at the Department of Railway (DoI) told Republica

The feasibility team that shared the preliminary findings of the study with the senior government officials on Monday has further outlined that it would cost Rs 20 to Rs 30 per commuter to travel in the Metro. It did not shed light on recovery of investment though.

"The complete feasibility report is yet to come. but the government has targeted to develop the KMR in ten years period after analyzing the feasibility report,” said Singh.

The government some 10 months ago had appointed Korea Transport Institute, Chungsuk Engineering Company, Kunwa Consulting and Engineering Company, Korea Rail Network Authority and two local companies - BDA Nepal Private Limited and EMRC Private Ltd - to conduct the feasibility study of the KMR. It paid Rs 60.5 million to those firms for completing the task.

The feasibility study report has, furthermore, indicated that total length of the KMR would be around 77 kms, which is some 11 kms longer than what the preliminary inception report reckoned. There would be a total of five railway lines of which one will encircle the existing ringroad, while others will traverse through the Kathmandu city in four directions.

The study has suggested the government to develop two railway lines underground and remaining three lines in ´elevated´ form, that is above the ground. "Elevated lines have been suggested mainly considering two factors: unsupportive underground soil features and heavy cost emanating from necessary land acquisitions," said Singh.

The 27.35 km long Ring Road line, which connects different locations between kalanki, Satdobato, Chabhil and back to Kalanki, will be elevated as per the feasibility report study. Similarly, the lines that connect Maharajgunj and Satdobato and Kalanki to Koteshwore and Gongbu to Kalanki will be elevated.

“Rest of the other lines will be underground,” Singh said.

The preliminary inception report that was approved by the government in March, 2012 too had outlined five major lines to connect the entire Kathmandu through a mass rapid transport system, Metro Railway.

According to the inception report, Line 1 follows the Ring Road, Line 2 goes from Kalanki to Sinamangal, Line 3 connects Koteshwore and Gongabu, Line 4 stretches from Satdobato to Maharajgunj and Line 5 links Balkhu and Chabhil.

The government has planned to develop KMR under build-own-operate- and transfer model, inviting foreign investment. The project has been handed over to the Investment Board of Nepal for speedy development.

Kathmandu Metro Railway Network Map Design

 This is dream for now that we will be surfing Metro Train In Kathmandu near Future. The main station of the Metro will be at Jamal as revealed by Department of Railway Nepal. The Facts of This Metro Railway , I summarized in this way.

Total Length : 66.1 K.M.
Speed of Metro :160Km/hr
No of metro line :5
Total no of station :32
First Line : 18 station starting from  Kalanki-Maharajgunj-Satdobato- Kalanki .
Second Line : 5 station Starting From Balkhu to Chabahil.
Third line :7 station Kotesor -Jamal-Gongabu.
Fourth line :9 station Satdobato-SahidGate-Narayanhiti-NarayanGopal Chowk.
5th line :6 station Kalanki -Kalimati-Dilibazar-Sinamangal.

Of all ,Transit point will be  Kalanki-SahidGate-Jamal-Chabahil-Tinkune-NarayanGopalchowk-Sinamangal-Balkhu
Contactors:
Korea Chungsung Enggineering
IMIC and BDA Nepal

Imagine- Cable Cars In Kathmandu!

Good news for those fed up with daily traffic congestion and worsening pollution in Kathmandu. B&S Urban Cable Car is planning to operate cable cars in the capital to offer its residents hassle-free movement in a clean environment. This will provide an alternative mode of transport in the Valley, which is full of narrow roads and devoid of any underground sub-ways.

B&S Urban Cable, a Nepali firm, is carrying out a detailed study to operate urban cable cars in Kathmandu. Entrepreneurs Bhawani Rana and Shyam Mohan Shrestha are the promoters of the firm.

The cost of the project has been estimated for between Rs 13 billion to Rs 14 billion at current prices. The cost will hover between Rs 15 billion to Rs 20 billion when the project is completed in four years, with the rise in cost of production over the period, according to Rana. She also added that many foreign companies have shown interest in working with B&S Urban Cable, and they are currently holding talks with some French companies.

पोखरामा केबुलकार नबनाउन आदेश

 पोखराको बसुन्धरा पार्कदेखि शान्ति स्तुपासम्म बनाउन लागिएको केबलकारको निर्माण कार्य हाल स्थगित गर्न मंगलबार सर्वोच्च अदालतले सरकारलाई अन्तरिम आदेश दिएको छ। न्यायाधीश सुशीला कार्कीको एकल इजलासले रिट निवेदनको अन्तिम आदेश नभएसम्म केबुलकारको निर्माण कार्य स्थगित गर्न भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात मन्त्रालयसमेतलाई आदेश दिएको हो।

आर्थिक प्रस्तावमा कुनै प्रतिस्पर्धा नगरी मनकामना दर्शन प्रालि चितवनको प्राविधिक प्रस्ताव मात्र स्वीकृत गरी अगाडि बढाइएको कार्य कानुन विपरीत भएको उल्लेख गरी कास्कीका चन्द्रकान्त भट्टराई, अशोक तुलाचन, ऋषिराम बराल र जिजयराम प्रधानले संयुक्तरूपमा सर्वोच्च अदालतमा रिट निवेदन दायर गरेका थिए।

सम्बन्धित ऐन तथा नियमावलीमा २ अब रुपियाँभन्दा कम लगानी भएको परियोजनामा प्रतिस्पर्धाद्वारा प्राविधिक प्रस्ताव स्वीकार गरिनुपर्ने व्यवस्था भएकामा उक्त केबलकार सञ्चालनका लागि कुनै प्रतिस्पर्धा नगरिएको रिट निवेदनमा उल्लेख गरिएको छ। सो केबलकार २ अर्ब रुपियाँभन्दा कम लागतको हो।

सर्वोच्च अदालतले केबलकार सञ्चालनका लागि गरिएको प्राविधिक प्रस्तावको स्वीकृति प्रारम्भिक रूपमा कानुन विपरीत देखिएकाले हाललाई सो कार्य अगाडि नबढाउन सरकारलाई अन्तरिम आदेश दिएको हो।

कानुनमा २ अर्ब रुपियाँभन्दा बढी लागतको परियोजना भएमा वाताद्वारा प्राविधिक प्रस्ताव स्वीकार गरिनुपर्ने व्यवस्था रहेको छ। रिट निवेदकका तर्फबाट बहस गर्दै अधिवक्ता रमणकुमार श्रेष्ठले कानुनले निर्दिष्ट गरेको व्यवस्था प्रतिकूल हुने गरी चितवन कोईले प्राविधिक प्रस्ताव मात्र स्वीकार गरी आर्थिक प्रस्तावमा कुनै प्रतिस्पर्धा नै नगराई परियोजनाको अनुमति दिने कार्य कानुन विपरीत भएको बताउनुभयो।

स्रोत: नेपाल समाचारपत्र

यान्त्रिक पुलमा यात्रु बढे

 पर्वत, २६ साउन- पर्वतको सदरमुकाम कुश्माबजारदेखि छिमेकी जिल्ला बागलुङको बलेवा जोड्ने कुश्मा–बलेवा यान्त्रिक पुलमा साउनको दोस्रो सातादेखि यात्रुको संख्या बढ्न थालेको छ । साउनको पहिलोे सातासम्म यात्रु संख्या सामान्य रहेकोमा दोस्रो सातादेखि बढ्न थालेको हो । केवलकार मोडलमा निर्माण भएको कुश्मा बलेवा यान्त्रिक पुलमा खेतीपाती लगाउने समय सकिएकाले आन्तरिक र बाह्य यात्रुहरूको संख्या बढेको यान्त्रिकपुल लिमिटेडले जनाएको छ ।
साउनको दोस्रो सातामा दैनिक ६ देखि ७ सय यात्रुले यात्रा गरिरहेका छन् । यसअघि दैनिक ४ सयदेखि ५ सय यात्रुले मात्रै यात्रा गर्दै आएका थिए । यात्रु संख्या बढेपछि दैनिक ४० हजारु रुपैयाँ संकलन भैरहेको कुश्मा बलेवा यान्त्रिक पुल लिमिटेडका सचिव केदारनाथ शर्माले जानकारी दिए । “खेतीपातीको मौसम सकिएकाले यात्रुको चाप बढ्न थालेको छ,” उनले भने, “पर्यटक पनि बढेका छन् ।” सचिव शर्माका अनुसार असारमा दैनिक औसत ३१ हजार रुपैयाँ यान्त्रिकपुलको आम्दानी थियो भने जेठमा ४५ हजार र वैशाखमा ४८ हजार रुपैयाँ दैनिक आम्दानी हुँदै आएको थियो । नियमित पुल प्रयोग गर्नेमा बलेवा क्षेत्रका यात्रु बढी छन् । बलेवा क्षेत्रका र नियमित रूपमा यात्रा गर्ने यात्रुलाई सहुलियतदरमा एकतर्फी ७५ रुपैयाँका दरमा भाडा लिने व्यवस्था छ भने विद्यार्थी र बालबालिकालाई ४० रुपैयाँ तथा अन्य यात्रुलाई एकतर्फी १ सय रुपैयाँ भाडा लिइँदै आएको छ ।
गत माघदेखि व्यावसायिक सञ्चालनमा आएको कुस्मा बलेवा यान्त्रिक पुल लिमिटेडले अहिलेसम्म ५५ लाख रुपैयाँको आर्थिक कारोबार गरेको सचिव शर्माले जानकारी दिए । “खर्च कटाएर ४२ लाख रुपैयाँ बचत भएको छ,” शर्माले भने । यान्त्रिक पुलमा सबैभन्दा बढी दुईतर्फका ह्विल र केबुलकारको चक्कामा लाग्ने रबरमा बढी खर्च आउने गरेको छ । दुईतर्फका तीनवटा ह्विल र १६ वटा चक्कामा रबर खिइने हुनाले नियमित रूपमा फेर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । त्यसबाहेका मासिक ६० हजार रुपैयाँ कर्मचारी र डिजेलमा खर्च आउने गरेको छ ।
पर्वत उद्योण वाणिज्य संघद्धारा प्रवद्र्धित यान्त्रिक पुल निर्माण कम्पनीले व्यापारिक दृष्टिकोणले महत्वपूर्ण मानिएको पर्वतको सदरमुकाम कुश्माबजारदेखि छिमेकी जिल्ला बागलुङको दक्षिण क्षेत्र बलेवा जोड्ने गरी करिब ५ करोड रुपैयाँको लागतमा पुल निर्माण गरेको हो । दुई घण्टाको पैदलयात्रा हिँडेर पर्वत सदरमुकाम कुश्माबजार आउन बाध्य बलेवा क्षेत्रका स्थानीय अहिले ५ देखि ७ मिनेटमै कुश्माबजार आउन सकेका छन् ।

लक्ष्मीप्रसाद सापकोटा