January 8: The detailed feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Kerung Railway, which was stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has resumed after a six-member team of experts arrived from China two weeks ago to conduct the study.

The Department or Railways of Nepal confirmed that the study kicked off after the arrival of the Chinese team.

The pre-feasibility study of the railway that connects Kathmandu with Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of China was conducted in November 2018 and an agreement for carrying out the feasibility study was reached during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal from October 12 to 13 in 2019.

As per the agreement reached in 2019, the Chinese team has arrived in Nepal to conduct the feasibility study, said Rohit Kumar Bisural, director general of the Department of Railways.

The study is being carried out with the support of the Chinese government as per the agreement reached between Nepal and China.

According to the DoR, it will take three and half years for the study of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway.

The pre-feasibility study report has incorporated geographical study from Kathmandu-Kerung via Trishuli, topographical features, among others. A detailed study is going to be held based on the preliminary study report.

The new detailed study will also finalize the issue of investment. As 98 percent of the railway will be based on tunnel system, it will be a uphill battle for Nepal to secure financial resources as the cost will be high for the underground infrastructures.

However, this study is being conducted with the grant assistance of the Chinese government.

As per the pre-feasibility report, the cost of the project was estimated to be around Rs 257 billion. Based on the report, the Department of Railways has estimated that it will be able to complete the project in nine years if the government allocated an annual budget of Rs 28.55 billion.

As per the preliminary study, the railway will be of 72.25 kilometers.

The DoR stated that the railway line will originate from Kerung and connect Kathmandu via Rasuwagadhi.

"The study of the railway will be carried out in such a way that the railway track will bifurcate towards Nepal from the railway track going towards Mansarovar of Tibet from a lake above Kerung," said Director General Bisural.

As the railway will be built on high mountainous region, this project will be challenging but not impossible, states the preliminary report.