the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to assist in a feasibility study for the operation of electric trolley buses on the Ring Road of Kathmandu Valley and on the main highways that are expanding.

While briefing the team including ADB Nepal Resident Mission Chief Arnaud Cauchois on the sustainable urban electrification project on Wednesday, Minister Ghisingh requested for necessary assistance in operating the trolley bus system.

In the meeting, Minister Ghising said, “The Ring Road of Kathmandu, Kathmandu-Dhulikhel, Pokhara-Mugling, Butwal-Narayanghat, Butwal-Bhairahawa, and Biratnagar-Dharan roads are being expanded. One lane of these roads can be used for trolley buses. To increase domestic consumption of produced electricity, electric vehicles like trolleys should also be utilized. Please provide the necessary support for a feasibility study on trolley bus operations.”

The trolley bus, which was launched in 1976 from Tripureshwor, Kathmandu to Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur with the support of the Chinese government, had been completely shut down since 2009.

With the support of ADB, a sustainable urban electric project is being launched to promote the use of electric vehicles for improving public transportation in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara Metropolitan City, and the Lumbini-Butwal-Siddharthanagar corridor.

Through the project, 250 electric vehicles will be deployed for public transportation. Infrastructure such as charging stations, maintenance and operation facilities, non-motorized access like bicycle lanes, and connectivity to bus stops will also be constructed for the electric vehicles.

The concept paper for the project has already been approved. Currently, a feasibility study for the project is underway. The project will be implemented through the concerned local levels, operated via the Municipal Development Fund and Infrastructure Development Bank. In Pokhara Metropolitan City, it has been proposed to establish a Public Transport Authority in Gandaki Province for project implementation.

The estimated cost of the project is 16 million US dollars (approximately NPR 2.256 billion). Of this, ADB will provide 10 million as a concessional loan and 4 million as a zero-interest loan. The remaining amount will be borne by the government.