Train, Train and Train: Riding the train of thought process in København, Tāmaki Makaurau and Kathmandu.

Tale of three cities

When København (Copenhagen) launched the fully functional driverless automated trains on 19th October 2002, I was doing my Masters at the KVL (now Københavns Universitet, The University of Copenhagen). In Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) the City Rail Link was officially opened among a fanfare of ribbon-cutting ceremony on 11th September 2026. Auckland has been home since 2005. My hometown Kathmandu does not have a single meter of train track.

City-bound train whizzes past at the Karanga-a-Hape station 33 meters underground. The sound, the vibration, and the vibe was mesmerising. The station design is a state of the art 'o' for awesome.

After 1990 Kathmandu gradually started to see increasing instances when the traffic would come to a grinding halt. The narrow and limited kilometers of street choked not only during rush hour but also during the off-peak hours of the day. The traffic woes haven't improved by too many miles despite widening of the existing roads and adding a few kilometers here and there. The additional road capacity was added mostly by widening of the existing streets of Kathmandu in late 2011 by the then Babu Ram Bhattrai led government. This additional capacity has been nearly neutralised by the sprawling metropolis. The monocentric city (having a sahar/bajar and basti around it) has by now evolved to be massively polycentric with each node developing itself into a viable mini city. There are 16 municipalities in greater Kathmandu. The population density and the ongoing sprawl of the city is simply mindblowing. 

Whenever I visit Kathmandu, it breaks my heart to see the suffering of the people, the loss of economic productivity, and the health impact due to pollution due to the chaotic traffic. I firmly believe that a viable public transport system such as a metro would solve this problem to a greater degree. It is getting late by day to lay down the tracks.

Public train service in Copenhagen began on 27 April 1847 with the opening of Denmark's first railway line connecting Copenhagen and Roskilde. Public train services in Auckland officially started on December 20, 1873, with the opening of the Auckland and Waikato Railway line connecting downtown Auckland (Point Britomart) to Onehunga. What were we doing in Nepal in the mid 19th century? We were busy killing each other and grabbing power. The Kot Parba, which heralded the ascent of the Ranas to power, occurred in 1846.   

The inception of the idea of a metro system in Kathmandu

When I was doing my Masters in Planning at the University of Auckland in 2006-2008, I got to study public transport closely. At every lesson in public transport, I would be transposed to Kathmandu with a vision to improve the city’s movements. My thinking process infected then by obsession with a metro system has somewhat subsided today but it continues to hit and haunt me at times. This hit me on the face again yesterday when I got to hop on the train through the brand new Auckland City Rail Link. The design of the  railway tunnels under the Central City is a marvel of technology. The aesthetics and functionality of the flash world-class stations are mind boggling. It is as if an air bender built it. It was worth the extra few billions that Auckland invested in its train system. 

After mulling over for years since the University of Auckland days, I wrote an article envisaging a traffic management model for Kathmandu in December 2011. The proposal in that article advocated that a metro would be part of the puzzle to solve the traffic mayhem of Kathmandu. The thinking process had progressed in discussion with late Ujwal Thapa and other friends who gravitated towards the movement Ujwal initiated.

Where are we today?

Before 2011 and since then many others have come forward with a number of proposals of a train system for Kathmandu - Metro, hybrid and over the surface - of all sizes and shapes. Feasibility and Detailed Project Reports have been written. A few advocates have taken it to another level and are to this day lobbying and investing significant resources to deliver a public transport system, including a Bust Rapid Transit and Metro. 

However, not a single track has been laid to this day. Neither it looks like there will be any in the near future.  

In my observation, Kathmandu chickens out whenever an ambitious project such as Metro comes up. Arguments against it go in circles around the tangents of difficult geology, exorbitant cost and lack of a population base to support a mass transit system like Metro. 

Where to from here?

There are engineering solutions to geological challenges. Tunneling technologies exist. The entire system need not be sub-ground. Parts of it could be over the surface.

Kathmandu has to bite the bullet and invest in the city’s movement. There is no other option. Financing can be sorted out. One financial model could be homegrown investment from Nepalis within the country and those living overseas. We don’t need another MCC to fund our mass transit. It could be a public bond or other financing tools. Nepal has to call; global Nepali will respond. Just look at the response when the PMO called for support after the Bhotekoshi flash-flood.

The argument that the population base of Kathmandu does not support a train/metro system is utter nonsense and bogus. Here are facts to prove it - København is a city of 1.4 million, Auckland 1.86 and Kathmandu 3 million.

Kathmandu must, sooner or later, build one or other form of mass transit if it is to continue as the economic hub. You don’t need any more 'needs assessment' reports to make a case for it. Enough of shuffling papers.

The recent political changes have handed a lifetime of opportunities to the current generation of leaders. The current breed of leadership have been handed the right political cocktail to show some spine and display political will to be ambitious and deliver projects like Metro in Kathmandu.

We have the technology. Financial viability is only an arm's length away. What is lacking is for someone to light the wick to spark the idea.

Yesterday was the right time. The second best time is today. 

Be brave. Be ambitious. Just do something.

यो देशमा म एउटा मानिस खोजी रहेछु।

What will it look like if Nepal were to place Economic Diplomacy at the front and centre of its bilateral relations with New Zealand?

An edited version of this blog was published by the Nepal New Zealand Friendship Society of Canterbury on 13th April, 2026

INTRODUCTION

Economic diplomacy (आर्थिक कूटनीति) is one of the key foreign policies of the Nepal Government. 

Economic diplomacy, in a nutshell, is the use of a government's foreign policy and diplomatic tools to advance national economic interests, such as increasing trade, attracting foreign investment, and ensuring economic security. 

Diplomatic Missions, in Nepal’s case its embassies, are responsible for implementing and executing the government’s foreign policies in the respective countries where the missions are based and have their jurisdiction. The Nepal embassy based in Canberra has diplomatic jurisdiction also in New Zealand.

In this article I will discuss a few potential initiatives that should be achievable if the Nepali diplomatic mission in Canberra places economic diplomacy at the front and centre of its foreign policy in New Zealand.

LEGACY OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

Friendly relations between Nepal and New Zealand started in 1953 after the first ascent of Everest. Formal bilateral diplomatic relations between Nepal and New Zealand were established on May 1, 1961. Both countries to this day share cordial bilateral relations, mainly built on the foundation of Sir Ed’s legacy. 

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cooperation between the two countries involve development assistance in areas such as education, capacity building, and agriculture. In April 2015, New Zealand provided an aid of two million dollars to assist Nepal in the aftermath of the then devastating earthquake. Similarly, in May 2021, the New Zealand government supported Nepal through an aid of one million to help combat COVID-19. The New Zealand government continues to support the Himalayan Trust which has been providing its services in the Everest Region since the 1960s. 

Trade figures of 2015-2015 from Stats NZ shows that New Zealand in average exported approximately $50-100 millions worth of goods and services to Nepal, which increased to $200 millions in 2025. Import from Nepal to New Zealand hovers around $10 million annually.

Nepal contributes a substantial amount to New Zealand, albeit official dollar figures are not available, through the tuition and living cost paid by Nepali international students. According to a figure obtained from the MBIE by a New Zealand based Mt 8848 Football Club, there were 1,640 students from Nepal as at 1 March 2026. Even by a conservative estimate of each student contributing $20,000 a year, Nepali international students contributed approximately $23 million to the New Zealand economy. New Zealand recognises international education as one of its export earnings. From my observation, the flow of Nepali international students in New Zealand has been steadily growing since 2015. 

BILATERAL RELATIONS TODAY

Until today, both Nepal and New Zealand do not have embassies in respective countries. The Nepal Embassy based in Canberra has jurisdiction in New Zealand. The New Zealand High Commission to India based in New Delhi is also responsible for diplomatic relations with Nepal. Both Nepal and New Zealand have appointed Honorary Consuls in respective countries.

Appointment of Honorary Consuls of Nepal to New Zealand is a relatively new practice dating back to only a few years. The Honorary Consul’s office mainly provides consular services and promotes bilateral relations between the two countries.

I had personally met the New Zealand ambassador to Nepal, Patrick John Rata, in a business function in Auckland in 2025. During the meeting, my experience from brief conversation with the ambassador has been that New Zealand is keen to explore mutual economic opportunities, specifically in the areas of trade and investment. Prior to the then Foreign Minister, Winston Peter’s state visit to Nepal, I had written to the minister requesting to initiate dialogue about mutual business and trade promotion between the two countries. Following the state visit, the minister has replied to my message with a cordial appreciation of that advice. Prior to the state visit, I had also had a live interview with RNZ on the issue of promoting trade and business between Nepal and New Zealand.

FUTURE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

The Stats NZ figure above clearly demonstrates that Nepal has a huge trade deficit when it comes to its trade with New Zealand. Although the dollar figure of the trade is relatively small, there are opportunities for the trade volume between the two countries to increase and Nepal’s deficit to decrease. Tapping the potential opportunity with New Zealand will only be feasible by placing economic diplomacy at the front and centre.

Fruits of a successful economic diplomacy might look something like those outlined below:

1. Seek more trade, less aid

1. We will see a shift towards an increase in trade of goods and services from both countries. Nepal’s trade deficit will decrease. 

2. The model of educational assistance through the NZAID will change from scholarship quotas towards student and teacher exchange offering mutual co-operation.

3. New Zealand has a good track record in good governance, disaster management, financial management, adventure tourism, agri-business, sports (mainly cricket), Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change. Nepal could engage Kiwi experts from those sectors, which has huge potential and need in Nepal. 

4. The Nepal government will send regular trade delegations to New Zealand to explore areas where mutual trade and investments can be initiated and increased.

2. Improve connectivity - Nepal Government would be exploring better air route connection with New Zealand by facilitating code-sharing with airlines such as Air New Zealand and QANTAS. I understand that Nepal Airlines is soon to operate between Sydney and Kathmandu. Such code sharing flights would make it possible to connect that Nepal Airlines flight with Auckland.

3. Negotiate respect based on economic contribution - Nepal Government will negotiate with the New Zealand government to ensure that its citizens who are based in New Zealand and are contributing towards the New Zealand economy are living a life of dignity and respect. Those include the international students and those in work visas. This will result in a lesser amount of cases of distress among the international students, and rightful pay and services for the workers.

4. Explore better opportunities

1. Nepal Government’s future endeavour must be to stop brain drain and to employ its workforce in Nepal, not overseas. However, for the foreseeable future Nepali citizens will continue to seek opportunities elsewhere. It is fair to say that New Zealand is a relatively better destination for the Nepali employment seekers. Nepal Government will explore the Working Holiday Visa option which allows Nepali citizens to work in New Zealand for a short-term.  

2. Nepal Government will seek opportunities for its high-skilled workforce in New Zealand. The learning and experience of those workforce would be a valuable asset for Nepal.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

As I outlined in the opening sentence of this article, Nepal already has economic diplomacy as a key policy on paper. It is now time to put that in practice. 

By the time this goes into publication, Nepal would have had a new government with a resounding majority after a mandate from a recently concluded general election. To unlock the economic opportunities with New Zealand (and the rest of the world), the new government must place economic diplomacy at the front and centre. 

To achieve tangible outcomes, each ambassador must be given a set of economic diplomacy key performance indicators (KPI) that they are required to implement in their countries of jurisdiction. Diplomatic appointments must be based on capacity to deliver on those KPIs, not a retirement opportunity for seasoned politicians. 

CONCLUSION

Nepal’s foreign relations is not only a matter of economy, it is also a matter of dignity of Nepal, Nepali citizens and Nepalis living overseas. When and if the Nepal government approaches its foreign policy with a focus on economic diplomacy, the tone and language of foreign nations will change. We would be seen and treated with more respect than we are today when we mostly approach foreign relations primarily based on aid.  

When pursuing economic diplomacy, Nepal must approach it on a win-win basis focussing on mutual benefits. Nepal must start to shift its narrative from what it has (for example, Everse and Buddha) towards what tangible opportunities it has to offer. Nepal must be able to confidently answer the question, ‘why would we invest in Nepal when there is India and China next door?’ 

It is now high time that we make a paradigm shift in our foreign relations from aid towards business and trade. For the sake of Nepal’s economy and Nepali’s dignity, we have to mean business. 

*****

Governance and Management: What and who?

Prime Minister Balendra Shah on 29th March 2026 briefed the bureaucrats (कर्मचारी), including the Ministry secretaries to catch-up with the spirit of the government. The Prime Minister apparently asked to stop lecturing Ministers and to stop making excuses citing legal barriers. 

In essence, the Prime Minister instructed the bureaucracy to play their role. This is a directive to deliver on the political promises made by him and his party before the election.

Image: onlinekhabar.com

The Prime Minister's directive should not come as a surprise or something new. Here is why.

In a well-functioning government, there are two mutually exclusive roles - governance and management.

The Prime Minister and the Ministers have the governance function. Bureaucrats are responsible for the management function.

Both roles must run parallel but separately for the system to function harmoniously. If they overlap, it will short-circuit the system.

The fundamental function of those in the governance role is to come up with a vision. For example, in this government's case, the Prime Minister’s vision, ‘I want to see Nepal smile’. The role of those in management is to figure out how to translate that aspiration into reality. For example, to decode what ‘I want to see Nepal smile’ means; what does it look like when Nepal is smiling; what actions should be taken and when to make Nepal smile, etc. 

The elected politicians, i.e. the Members of the Parliament, are the representatives of the people. The government is the administration mandated through the Parliament. As the leader of the administration, the Prime Minister comes up with a vision. That vision is a reflection of the people’s aspirations. The Prime Minister is accountable towards the people to deliver on that vision.

When bureaucracy works towards implementing the Prime Minister’s vision, they do not necessarily only just serve him in isolation. Instead, they take responsibility for being public servants. They implement the people’s aspirations that are reflected in the Prime Minister’s vision.

In his briefing, the Prime Minister merely asked that the bureaucracy be responsible i.e. to do what the bureaucracy and the state apparatus are supposed to do.

The Prime Minister's instruction is spot on. Bureaucracy should by default be doing what the Prime Minister asked them, without even having to remind. Bureaucrats are public servants. The public servants serve the people by serving the Prime Minister and the government under him.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party signed a contract and made a promise through the 100 point election manifesto with the voters. Following the resounding majority given to the Rastriya Swatantra Party by the voters the government is now accountable towards honouring the election promises.

As the leader of the government, the ultimate accountability is vested on the Prime Minister. The buck stops with him. That accountability is only possible from a responsible bureaucracy.

The bureaucrats must do what the Prime Minister has asked from them. No ifs. No buts.

(Based on my experience and observation of governance and management in New Zealand, and that in other well-functioning democracies)

चिट–च्याट विथ परदेशी: न्युजिल्याण्डमा नेपाली ब्यवसाय र यसका चुनैतिहरु

‘चिट–च्याट विथ परदेशी’ कार्यक्रममा वरिस्ठ पत्रकार रामहरी पाण्डे जीसंग भएको कुराकानी  

Video copyright posted with gratitude: himalpariTV

Leadership, Life & Growth: In the premiere episode of The Deal Maker with Thomas Lama

A compelling conversation on ambition, resilience, and the mindset required to succeed. Packed with valuable insights and real-world lessons.

This is more than a story—it’s a blueprint for chasing dreams and making them real. 

Video copyright with gratitude: The Deal Maker, Thomas Lama

RNZ Live Interview with Jesse Mulligan: Call to boost business with Nepal

RNZ Live Interview with Jesse Mulligan: Call to boost business with Nepal

Winston Peters will tomorrow undertake the first ever visit to Nepal by a New Zealand Foreign Minister. It coincides with the anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest 72 years ago. But New Zealand Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Raj Maharjan told Jesse he hopes future talks will focus more on a mutually beneficial trade relationship.

Audio copyright posted with gratitude: RNZ Afternoons

नेपालले न्युजील्यान्डमा के-के सामान निर्यात गर्न सक्छ?

रातोपाटीका वरिस्ठ रिपोर्टर नरेन रौले जी संग नेपाल र न्युजील्यान्डको द्विपक्षीय सम्बन्धमा आर्थिक कारोबार र व्यापार व्यवसायका सम्बन्धमा गरिएको कुराकानी 

Youtube link

Video copyright with many gratitude: Ratopati TV

Host: Narendra Raule Camera: Yogendra Nagarkoti 

Edit: Ratopati 

न्युजिल्याण्ड पढ्न जानु अघि कुन-कुन कुरामा ध्यान दिने ?

रातोपाटीका वरिस्ठ रिपोर्टर नरेन रौले जी संग न्युजील्यान्डमा अध्यानका लागी जानु हुने विद्यार्थीहरुका लागी विशेष जानकारीका बारे गरिएको छलफल 

Youtube link

Video copyright with many gratitude: Ratopati TV

Host: Narendra Raule Camera: Yogendra Nagarkoti 

Edit: Ratopati 

Kathmandu Chronicles 2025 of an Urban Planner #3: On service delivery

Local government is where the rubber meets the road in terms of the general public enjoying the fruits of democracy.

An administration and the elected representatives must improve the daily life of the general public or solve their problems.

If they fail to do that, they are useless to the voters.

Same applies to a professional discipline. An urban planner who does not contribute towards improving the lives of the city’s inhabitants or solve the city dwellers’ problems, s/he is merely engaging in an academic exercise.

What does the above framework look like in real life?

Service delivery.

Examples:

1. You get hassle-free and efficient administrative services from your Ward office. Such as getting approval to build your family home within X weeks. Administrative services have improved (I was able to register a business within a matter of hours!) but there is room for improvement. You simplify and get this right, our people will worship the Ward officers and elected members - I guarantee you. This is the most heard complaint that ‘lyang lyang gardincha Ward le’.

2. You, your old parents and your young children can drive and walk safely on clean well-managed streets and footpaths.

3. You are able to read books for yourself and with your children and grandchildren in the local library.

4. Your children and grandchildren have parks to run around and play.

5. Your Municipality has a system and process to ask you for your opinion on matters that impact you directly. Such as allocating the municipal budget in their annual budget.

The above are not rocket science. Those are practical things that could be implemented with simple initiatives.

We have to get our basics right first. Deliver services to our tax payers. Improve their lives. Solve their daily problems.

Once we get our basics in place then we can think about how to check the air pollution. Once we free ourselves from getting entangled in daily nitty gritty, then we can work on grand visions such as ‘how to make Kathmandu a metropolis with a status of a regional hub of the South Asian region’ (competing with the likes of New Delhi). This can be done.

For now, let’s start with getting the basics right first.

Let’s deliver the services that our city dwellers deserve.

(Image: Yesterday with the Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol at her office in काठमाडौँ महानगरपालिका-Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office. I posted this image because she is one of the top elected representatives of our city. She is our city's leader. I have been trying to meet with the Mayor since 2023 but no success. He doesn't have to meet with me but he is running a public office funded by our tax. He continues to remain behind a close, confined and impenetrable iron curtains insulating himself from his voters and the media. This neither helps the tax payers nor the Mayor's office. His close advisors of the sachibalaya, please pass this unsolicited advice to the Mayor saap Balen jyu. I say this will all the good intentions and wishing success to his tenure. His success is symbolic not only for Kathmandu but also for the entire nation. I saw his images in front of trucks when I was travelling from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Please improve your public relations before it's too late. Best wishes from a lad born and bred in Kathmandu and an urban planner)

Posted on facebook during my Nepal visit April-May, 2025

काठमाडौँकाे बढ्दो शहरीकरण कसरी व्यवस्थापन गर्ने ?

शहरी योजना र काठमाडौँकाे बढ्दो शहरीकरण कसरी व्यवस्थापन गर्न सकिएला? यस विषयमा रातोपाटीका वरिस्ठ रिपोर्टर नरेन रौले जी संग भएको छलफल 

Youtube link

Video copyright with many gratitude: Ratopati TV

Host: Narendra Raule

Camera: Yogendra Nagarkoti 

Edit: Ratopati