Come April 2017, two climbers from Jamshedpur may realise their avalanche-battered dream of annexing the world's tallest peak.

Former IITian-turned-adventurer Hemant Gupta (25) and Tata Steel employee Payo Murmu (50), who had to abort their expedition from Camp One at 21,000ft following the earthquake in Nepal on April 25 this year, have received a shot in the arm with the Nepal government deciding to extend their permit for two years.

"The ministry of tourism in Nepal has, in principle, agreed to the proposal of Nepal Mountaineering Association to extend the permit till 2017. This paves the way for our second attempt at Everest," Hemant told The Telegraph from Tumung, 25km from the steel city, where he is leading a Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) programme.

The TSAF manager had been to Kathmandu last week to discuss permit issues with Dawa Stephen Sherpa, the managing director of Asian Trekking, a pioneering company that has been organising expeditions to the Everest for over three decades. "Dawa informed me about the permit extension. He even asked me to start preparations from next year," Hemant said.

Earlier in April, Hemant and Payo had received a single-time permit, costing around Rs 7 lakh per person, from Nepal's ministry of tourism, which was revoked following the quake-triggered avalanches. The TSAF team had hired Asian Trekking to co-ordinate logistics, from air travel to organising sherpas and oxygen cylinders for the climb.

Now, their 2017 Everest expedition hinges on Kathmandu renewing the permit without fresh charges.

Excluding the permit, an Everest trip costs around Rs 13-14 lakh per head. "We have to bear these extra expenses even if our permit comes free," Hemant said.

The feisty climber, who originally hails from Kota in Rajasthan, maintained that the development had brightened their chances of making another attempt at scaling the inviting 29029ft.

"Payo and I will start preparations in the Garhwal Himalayas in April next year. We shall climb every peak above 22,000ft. The Everest is quite a challenge and we need to be adequately prepared," he said.

"Avalanches and earthquakes prompted cancellation of two seasons - and more soul searching about the ethics of climbing the world's tallest peak. Uncertainties still exist over routes to the top. We are keeping fingers crossed for 2017," Hemant signed off.