— BADRI PRASAD KHATIWADA
BADRI PRASAD KHATIWADA, a well-known human rights activist and social worker, led a study team on Kathmandu Valley’s future transportation requirements, mainly mass transport and rapid transit system. Khatiwada’s team proposed constructing a railway track from the Bagmati corridor to the Indian railhead in the south. Khatiwada spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues. Excerpts:
At a time when the population of the valley has to face many difficulties because of disruptions on the highway, have you suggested an immediate alternative link?
We have always tried to solve the immediate problems and have not had a long-term vision. If we build a double track rail along the Bagmati corridor, we will reach Birgunj crossing just 140 km. We import most of our goods via Calcutta. With a railroad link to Birgunj, our costs will be reduced. The railway can be operated by electricity, which is available in the country.
How do you see the proposed tunnel road as an alternative?
I have not seen any long-term benefit by constructing a tunnel, since it is going to be costly and vulnerable in terms of geology. Although I have spent most of my life in Hetauda, it does not necessarily mean that I need to support the tunnel proposal. Studies have shown that the railway is the best alternative and cheapest means of transportation to link Kathmandu with the terai. There are regular obstructions at the Bhainse-Hetauda section. If we build a tunnel through the same way, the country will end up wasting its scarce resources. Since the Bhimphedi-Hetauda portion of the mountains is prone to natural disasters like landslides, I cannot recommend going for the tunnel road. A railway link from the east of Hetauda to the East-West Highway is a better alternative.
You have been proposing a railway link from Kathmandu to the terai for a long time. Why isn’t anybody buying your idea?
There may be thousands of reasons. Prolonged political instability in the country is an important factor preventing the implementation of such projects. The private sector should be involved in this endeavor. However, when the government is unstable, no investor would want to invest in such a big project. Unless the government develops a sound legal system and convince the investor about the safety of his or her investment, I don’t think anybody will come to invest in the sector.
‘Railway Is The Best Long-Term Alternative’
— SHANKAR NATH RIMAL
SHANKAR NATH RIMAL, prominent civil engineering consultant and former member of National Planning Commission, was a member of the study group on Kathmandu Valley’s future transportation requirements. He talked to SPOTLIGHT about the technical and other aspects of the alternative link. Excerpts:
Don’t you think the time has come to build a fast-track alternative road to link Kathmandu with the southern plains?
We need a road, but we have to be clear about the type the country requires and which mode of transport would fulfil our requirements over the long term. One of the aims of the road is to solve the problems of transportation. There may be a proposal to build a fast-track highway with wider lanes, but all these things will be dependent on economic potentials. We have to take a decision keeping in mind the country’s demand for the next 15 years. We have to decide what type of lanes we need. We must have a long-term economic plan. Such a plan should be based on wishes of the people. There needs to be a long-term policy for the country. Nobody will come to invest with a short-term target. We have to study whether we can sustain the highways and transport.
What about mass transport?
If we go for mass and rapid transport, the cost will be reduced drastically. Mass transport can ferry thousands of people as well as tons of goods. Every day 20,000 to 25,000 commuters move in and out of the valley and we require 700-800 buses. If we have mass transportation, we will do so within a short period. If we go for train, the cost will be drastically reduced. The speed of most ordinary trains is 60-70 km per hour. We can cross the station up to 2-3 hours. If we link the rail to the East-West Highway, our transport cost will be reduced. We can use hydro-electricity. Our study has shown that railway is best alternative for mass transportation to link Kathmandu to the terai. For the long term, train will be the best alternative.
The population of Kathmandu is growing fast. Don’t you have any immediate alternative?
We must think of long-term alternatives. We have already spent a lot of time and resources for the sake of immediate alternatives. We must have patience and wait a little bit longer to see permanent, reliable and efficient alternative roads.
We have been talking about the need to build permanent and reliable alternative roads to link Kathmandu with the terai for last 55 years. What are the hindrances?
The population of Kathmandu is swelling and growing economically. Unless there is a reliable and fast-track transport system, the population problem in the valley cannot be solved. Thanks to the cooperation of the Indian government, we built Tribhuvan Rajpath, the first road to link Kathmandu to the south. Then Prithvi Highway was constructed with support from China to link Narayanghat. We have spent such a huge amount of money to build these roads. Although some small narrow lane roads are in existence, they cannot supplement the existing roads. We need to have a fast-track road.The tunnel road may be an alternative, but it is very difficult to build in fragile geological condition. Our studies have shown that linking Kathmandu to the terai via railway through the Bagmati corridor is best and sustainable alternative. We have to set our own priority and needs but our policy makers and planners are more concerned with the interest of others.
Can’t you develop a fast-track road along the railway line in the Bagmati corridor?
Fast-track road and railway line cannot go together, as they need different infrastructure.