Nepal, Kathmandu Monorail Feasibility Study Announced
Nepal, Kathmandu Monorail Feasibility Study Announced
Nepal, Kathmandu Monorail Feasibility Study Announced :During a ceremony held at the City Hall on 8 February 2017 Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Spokesperson Gyanendra Karki and Cimex Inc Managing Director Prashida Panday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the conduction of a technical and financial feasibility study into an elevated monorail system in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This is the first agreement of its kind signed in Nepal. A first report will be produced
within three months, for a 10 km long major route. The full report will be available within
one year and will cover all major routes. As per the agreement, Cimex will bear all the
costs related to the feasibility study.
On 8 January 2017, during a meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, government agency Investment Board Nepal (IBN) had formed a high level committee to conduct a study on the modality for operating a metro rail service in the Kathmandu valley.
KMC Chief Executive Officer Rudra Singh Tamang said that the SkyRail would be a better option for a congested city like Kathmandu than the metro rail. “We can’t imagine the scenario where we have to dig again to build tracks for the metro rail in Kathmandu. That’s why the concept of SkyRail on elevated tracks makes a lot of sense.”
According to Mr. Panday a monorail system will cost at least 80% less than a metro rail system. “If the study concludes that running a skyrail in the valley is possible, then we will start its construction within a year.”
The objective of the monorail system would be to help to get rid of traffic congestion and control pollution.
Kathmandu is the capital city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the largest Himalayan state in Asia. It is the largest metropolis in Nepal, with a population of 1.4 million in the city proper and 5 million in the urban agglomeration that spreads across the Kathmandu Valley.
Cimex, founded in 1970 and based in Kathmandu, provides trading, distribution and company representation services. The company trades and distributes telecommunication and hydropower equipment, heavy duty vehicles and earthmoving machines, fertilizers, sugar, and agricultural machineries and parts. It caters to telecommunications, hotels and hospitality, real estate, tourism, financial services, electrical and electronic equipment, and water supply industries. The company partners with a number of foreign companies including Mitsubishi, Alcatel, ZTE, KRUPP, Vectra, and NORPLAN.
According to KMC Cimex will conduct the study in collaboration with BYD Company Limited, a Chinese company specializing in battery technologies. It operates in several high-tech sectors, including high-efficiency automobiles, electrified public transportation, environmentally-friendly energy storage, affordable solar power and information technology and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) services.
Named one of “China’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune China in 2016, BYD has been committed to driving forward green mobility to help address the mega challenge and public concern of traffic congestion.
On 13 October 2016 BYD launched its 4.4 km “SkyRail” monorail system test track in Shenzhen, developed out of a five year R&D project, marking BYD’s entry into the mass transit market.
Global debut of BYD “SkyRail” in Shenzhen: Monorail system to contribute to alleviating traffic congestion
BYD’s billionaire founder Wang Chuanfu attended the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City on 2 December 2016 to promote its “SkyRail” monorail system.
The company will build a SkyRail network of 35 kilometers in Shantou, a city of 5 million people located in Southern China.
On the same day of the City Hall ceremony, 8 February 2017, BYD Auto announced the launch of its business in Nepal and the appointment of BYD Cimex as its authorized distributor in the country. The e6 pure electric compact crossover will be the first model to be available.
Writer: John Carlo Ottaviani
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