Government on Monday directed the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) to move ahead with the Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) of a metro rail project in Kathmandu Valley.

The decision was made based on a report submitted by a committee comprising a member of National Planning Commission. The committee formed on January 8 was commissioned to conduct a study on the modality of operating Metro rail service in Kathmandu Valley.

The 28th IBN board meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and IBN Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba mandated the IBN to conduct DFS and DPR under Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) modality for the proposed route number 2 of the Kathmandu Valley Metro rail project.

The route 2 encompasses Nagdhunga-Kalanki-Koteshwor-Dhulikhel areas of the Kathmandu valley and will be 54 kilometres long.

Furthermore, the meeting also instructed IBN and concerned government entities to implement the recommendations made by the committee regarding route number 1 of Kathmandu Metro rail that includes Budhanilkantha-Satdobato fast-track stations.

The perennial problem of traffic congestion and pollution is expected to reduce sharply if the IBN succeeds with its Metro rail projects in Kathmandu Valley.