Cimex Inc submitted a pre-feasibility study report on Sky Rail to Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Tuesday. 

The report handed over to KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya envisages a 10-km route from Tilganga (Airport) to Kalanki via Naya Baneshwor, Sahid Gate and Teku.  

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Shakya said he would hold consultations with other stakeholders. “We have observed their presentation, but this is not going to be a final approval, we still need a detailed research on it,” he said.

According to the report, the sky-rail will be equipped with a battery (lithium iron phosphate) back-up in case of power failure. “The latest version of BYD sky-rail particularly suitable for narrow winding streets of Kathmandu. It can be built at a fourth the cost of the conventional sub-way train system,” the report claims. 

Each coach will ferry around 200 passengers, travelling at the speed of 30-80km an hour, with the ability to transport between 15,000-30,000 passengers an hour, according to the report. The KMC had signed a memorandum of understanding with Cimex Inc in February this year for conducting a study on technical and financial feasibility of the Sky Rail system in Kathmandu in two phases.