IBN steps up to conduct feasibility study for eBRT in Ring Road of the Valley

Kathmandu: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has stepped up to conduct a feasibility study for the Electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT) in Ring Road of Kathmandu Valley.

The IBN in this regard has called for Expression of Interest from interested firms to carry out a feasibility study for the development, operation and management of the transport project. The board has maintained in the international bidding proposal that any single firm or a joint-venture company can apply at the IBN office within a deadline of December 12.

The firm to be selected will be mandated to complete the feasibility study of the eBRT in 18 months from the date of signing a contract. The IBN has planned to construct the project under a public-private-partnership model.

The government has planned to allocate a lane of Ring Road street for the operation of electric buses. The private sector company will construct modern bus-stop and terminals and smart ticketing, among others.

The pre-feasibility study has estimated the cost of US $153 million (Rs 20.11 billion) to build the infrastructure under BOOT model.