Waterway transportation not commercially feasible in Nepal: Study

KATHMANDU, October 10:

Though the government has made several efforts to assess the feasibility of waterways in the country over the recent years, a fresh study reveals that transportation through the major rivers is not financially viable.

The study commissioned by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport suggests that operating transport in the Koshi, Gandaki and Bheri rivers are only non-commercially utilized to ferrying goods and people.

The two-year study has found that the powerful current in the rivers and people´s reluctance to use water transportation are the major challenges to commercialization of waterways.

The MoPIT has shelved the plan for going ahead with a plan to develop water transportation as the government didn´t earmarked enough budget for this purpose.
The government has set aside total Rs 15 million to carry out the feasibility study for water transport in the fiscal years 2011/12 and 2012/13.

The study, which was jointly conducted by consulting firms Eco Code and East Consultant, shows that operating jet boat is not commercially feasible in those rivers as cost will be much higher than road transportation.

The study was carried out with the assumption that one jet boat operation in a section costs minimum Rs 10 million a year and the revenue should make up for the operating cost.
The study was conducted on Koshi Barrage, Chatara, Chatara Tribeni, Tribeni-Suane, and Saune-Ghurmi section along the 185-km stretch of the Koshi river basin.
Along the 185-km Gandaki river basin, the study was carried on Devghat- Ramdi, Deveghat-Muglin, Muglin-Fislin and Mirmi-Seti Beni sections.

Similarly, Chiasapani-Ghatgaun, Ghatgaun-Tarnaga, Taranag Kamalpur, and Kamalpur and Botechaur sections of 123-km Bheri Basin were also covered by the study.
Dinkar Sharma of the MoPIT said that water transportation is not financially feasible as the study has revealed that smooth movement of water transport vehicles is difficult due to swift current in the rivers.

“Any water transportation vehicle has to carry at least 40 tons in a trip for commercial viability. But, we can´t see this possible in our major rivers,” said Sharma.
However, the studies have stated that rafting and recreational purposes targeting foreign tourists are commercially viable.
Small-sized boats are in operation in different rivers mainly for the purpose of river crossing.
Being a land-locked country, Nepal is deprived of maritime transportation.

The water transportation is regarded as energy efficient mode of transportation in many countries.
SAARC Regional Multi Model Transport Study commissioned by the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation in 2006, has also stated that the water transportation is not financially viable in Nepal, according to Sharma.

The transportation study was meant for exploring new avenues for regional trade and transportation.

Source: Republica