Nepal-India broad gauge railway by December

Nepal is all set to launch its first broad gauge railway service connecting India by December. The broad-gauge passenger railway service will be operated from Nepal’s South-Eastern Janakpur town to Jayanagar.

This stretch is a section of the 69km Nepal-India cross border railway line from Jayanagar to Nepal’s South Eastern region. Five more cross-border railway lines between the two neighboring countries are either being constructed or planned.

There was an operation of Janakpur-Jaynagar railway service in the past but on a narrow gauge line. But the service came to a complete halt around five years ago after renovation and upgrading works began.

The broad-gauge railway project, which is being built at a cost of Rs 5.5 billion (Rs 8.8 billion) with the support of the Indian government, is divided into three segments. The first phase comprises construction of 34 km segment between Jaynagar and Kurtha; the second phase comprises construction of 18 km segment from Kurtha to Bhangaha of Mahottari district; and the third phase of work comprises construction of 17 km segment from Bhangaha to Bardibas of Mahottari. Of the total railway line, 3 km falls in the Indian territory.

It is also to be noted that the Nepal division is planning to take rail carriages on lease from India to start the operation of the service. It also has plans to hire crew members from India as Nepal does not have necessary human resources to operate the broad gauge railway service.