Says bringing rail is not like waving a magic wand
KATHMANDU, June 24: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that it would take time for the much hyped railway to come to Nepal, despite claiming that a monorail would ply in Kathmandu’s roads within five years.
“Materializing rail is not like waving a magic wand,” Oli said adding that the vision, also shared by Chinese President, Xi Jinping, would take time. “Nepal is new to this and we’ll have to work further with maturity to make the rail dream a reality.”
Addressing Province 3's parliament on June 4, Oli had said that while many would mock his words, it would materialize before the government ended its tenure.
At the parliament, Oli had said while the Indian rail would take four years to materialize, a metro rail by China would reach Kathmandu within three years.
First phase works include assessing Nepal’s topography to identify challenges and putting forth a detailed plan to examine feasibility. Oli also urged all not to leave their foot off the ground as he said that identifying investments would come later. “First, let us complete the ground works. Only then we will think of investments,” Oli, who returned to Kathmandu after his six day visit to the People’s Republic of China, said.
Nepal’s railway dream
The Prime Minister said that train to Kathmandu would open new avenues for development while increasing connectivity.
Oli added that his government was bent on ensuring development and prosperity in the nation and that the only way to do so was by maintaining cordial relationship with India and China. “We do not play card games with (China and India) for short political gains and we stand with our neighbors, in good and bad times,” Oli said. “For this reason, our foreign and global policies are guided with honest intentions that will not hinge country’s security, sovereignty and world peace.
Oli had left for six day state visit to China with his jumbo 119 delegates at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister, Li Kequiang on June 19.
During Oli's visit, Nepal and China have agreed to expedite eight major projects in Nepal.
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