First Ever Passenger Train Between India And Nepal To Start Running In December This Year

The first train to ferry passengers from India to Nepal will start operating by December this year according to railway officials.

An immigration post will be established at the Jayanagar station in Bihar which is the starting point of the route, traversing through a 34 km stretch to the final destination of Kurtha in Dhanusa district in Janakpur Zone of south-eastern Nepal.

The check post will most probably be manned by either the Bureau of Immigration or the state government, the Press Trust of India reported. Further, no visas will be required of Indian and Nepalese nationals who will be availing this route.

Photo: Representational Image

The trains will function in eight to sixteen-hour shifts and will open with four shifts. However, the Nepalese have shown their interest in the operation of both passenger and freight trains on this route. The India-Nepal train is being seen as an attempt to thwart China¡¯s efforts to establish rail links with Nepal.

During Nepal¡¯s newly-elected Prime Minister, K.P Oli¡¯s visit to India, the government showed interest in establishing a railway network with the Himalayan nation after Beijing decided to extend its railway network up to Kathmandu.

The Jayanagar to Kurtha line was initially built during the British Raj to transport forest logs from Mahottari in Nepal to India. At that time the stretch was 52 km long but its route was eroded by a flood 15 years ago.

Photo: Representational Image

The railway project which costs around Rs 5.5 billion is divided into three phases. The first includes construction of a 34-km segment between Jayanagar and Kurtha, the second comprises construction of an 18-km segment from Kurtha to Bhangaha in Mahottari district, and the third comprises construction of a 17-km segment from Bhangaha to Bardibas.

Out of the total stretch, only three kilometres is a part of the Indian territory.