According to the preliminary detailed project report (DPR) of Simara-Bardibas railway track -- a section of East-West Electric Railway (EWER), 102-km track will connect Simara and Bardibas through Bhawanipur, Manaharwa, Kumargari, Chocha, Chandranigahapur, Mangalpur, Sukhepokhari and Nawalpur. The trains on this broad gauge track can travel at a speed of 160 km/h.[break]
The preliminary DPR is based on the feasibility report on 945-km EWER prepared by Rites India Ltd in August 2010. “However, there are slight changes,” an official of the DoR said, explaining, “the length of the track has been shortened in the latest report.”
The new report has also prescribed measures to minimize acquisition of privately-owned land and houses, providing leeway to the government to allocate less budget for compensation and resettlement purposes. "This will also lead to minimization of structural extentions," reads the preliminary report of the DPR.
The preliminary DPR also has accommodated Simara-Birgunj track, which will pass through places like Jitpur and Lalparsa.“"This track also aims to connect inland container depot in Birgunj”" Rajeshwar Man Singh, superintendent engineer of the DoR, said.
The DoR - which on Thursday is going to present both reports and inception report on Kathmandu Metro Railway to experts and Hridayesh Tripathi, minister for physical planning and works - had provided 12 months to the companies to submit the DPR.
The reports were prepared by three Korean, two local and an Indian companies. Chungsuk Engineering Company (CEC), Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA) and Kunwa Consulting and Engineering Company (KCEC) were three Korean companies involved in crafting the DPR, whereas Fulbright Consultancy and Shah Consulting were local companies and International Consulting Technocrats Ltd was the Indian company.
According to the official at the DoR, around Rs 80 million was paid to companies that prepared the reports.
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