Indo-Nepal rail services from Jayanagar in India to Kurtha in Nepal, a distance of 34.5 km, are likely to open in January 2022 as a New Year’s gift to the people of both India and Nepal. IRCON International Limited, an arm of the Railways, has been entrusted with the task of completing this ambitious project in three phases from Jayanagar to Kurtha, Kurtha to Bijilpura and Bijilpura to Bardibas, covering a stretch of 68 km.
Bihar to Nepal by rail in January
According to ECR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar, the railways has completely completed the project from Jayanagar to Kurtha long back. Konkan Railway handed over at least 10 DEMU coaches to the Government of Nepal in September 2020. But rail services between the two neighboring countries could not be started due to one reason or the other. However, the Government of Nepal has asked the Konkan Railway to fully maintain the idle DEMU coaches in Nepal.
5 coach train
He said that in view of the present situation, Government of Nepal has expressed willingness to run DEMU passenger trains with load structure of five coaches in both up and down directions between Jaynagar and Kurtha initially to meet the needs of the passengers. After the commencement of rail services between Jayanagar and Kurtha, a joint team of experts from both India and Nepal will inspect the track fitness and conduct a rapid test on the Kurtha-Bijilpura route. In the third phase, a distance of 17 km will be covered from Bijilpura to Bardibas. However, the Railways has not yet secured any land from the Government of Nepal for laying new lines and construction of station buildings in this section. The CPRO said the entire stretch from Jaynagar to Bardibas would have eight stations and six halts.
There will be profit in the business of both the countriesA newly constructed goods shed at Dhhang, barely 20 km from the Nepal border, was made functional under the Samastipur division of the ECR to cater to the needs of traders from both the countries. Built at a cost of Rs 14.5 crore, this Dhang Goods Shed will also help the business community of Sitamarhi, Champaran, Sheohar and Nepal region to load or unload their booked consignments.
Source: Jsnewstimes
