Kathmandu, October 25
The Government of Nepal has requested Japan to help it build a railway connecting the far-east and far-west of the country.
The government has also proposed that Japan extend grant and loan assistance to Nepal for the project.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bir Bahadur Balayar says he has requested Japanese Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Katsunori Takahashi to extend support in this regard. The Minister was in Japan for an official visit last week.
“He is positive about my request,” Balayar says.
Meanwhile, the Minister also held a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masashi Ogawa, after returning home to discuss the project.
“They have also expedited discussions through the ambassador,” the Minister says, “We hope to conclude the discussions soon.”
The detailed project report for the 945-kilometre railway has already been prepared.
The concept of east-west railway was introduced in Nepal in 2008, but no significant progress has been made since then.
