The Nepal Weekly 
August 6, 2024
Prime Minister K.P. Oli has underscored the need for transforming Nepal into the era of waterways and railways.
Addressing an annual progress review meeting of Department of Road under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prime Minister Oli directed the civil servants to work out a plan to operate steamer from Hanumannagar situated near Indian border to Triveni and Devghat. We could not use water ways till now though there was a law relating to steamer service in Nepal as early as in 1970, which is very said, Oli pointed out.
He directed the civil servants to work out a plan so that steamers can be operated within the country very soon as it is cheaper to transport goods and people through water ways. “We should establish a port, a customs office and establish visa centre at Hanumannagar for the purpose,” the Prime Minister said.
Besides operating steamer services, we need to expand railway services, he pointed out. At the programme attended by Minister for Physical Infrastructure Devendra Dahal, secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, senior officials and engineers, PM Oli said, we need to add two railways in the existing Janakpur – Kurtha railway line. He also underscored the need to operate railway services from East to West across Nepal. If it is not possible to operate underground train services in Kathmandu we can work towards installing a sky rail, pointed out Oli. If we can operate East-West railway service Indian nationals can also take benefit from that to travel all the way from Gauhati to Delhi and from Siliguri to Haridwar via Nepal, said PM Oli.
While working in the transport sector we need to focus on such projects which can benefit people, save time and also safe for travelers, he pointed out.
