First Broad Guage Passenger Train Between India And Nepal

India and Nepal jointly flagged off a new cross-border passenger train between Jaynagar in India and Kurtha in Nepal. PM Modi and his Nepal Counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba launched the rail service 35-km cross-border with a capacity of 1,000 passengers. The cost of building the Jaynagar-Kurtha section is over Rs 383 crore.

PM Modi said, “PM Deuba and I also agreed to give priority to trade and cross-border connectivity initiatives in all respects. The beginning of the Jayanagar-Kurtha rail line is part of this initiative. Such schemes will make a great contribution to the smooth, hassle-free exchange of people between the two countries.”

First broad-gauge passenger rail link

Significantly, this is the first broad-gauge passenger rail link between the two countries. A broad-gauge is defined as the distance between the two tracks in these railway gauges is 5 ft 6 in (1676 mm) or any gauge wider than 1,435 mm.

With the support of the Indian project granting Rs 548 crore, the rail link will be extended further to Bardibas in Nepal and the Nepal Railway Company (NRC) will operate the train.

The project is assigned to a wing of the railways called Ircon International Limited. It will be completed in three phases. According to a report published in DNA, spending Rs 784 crore, the External Affairs Ministry is sponsoring the network between Jaynagar, Bihar and Barbidas in Nepal.
Floods affected the route

India Nepal Floods affected the route

In 1937, the British government first introduced the rail service between Jayanagar and Bijalpura in Nepal. However, devastating floods in Nepal after 2002 led to the suspension of the services. Jaynagar-Kurtha section is part of the 68.7 km Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardidas rail link. Jaynagar is 4KM from the India-Nepal border.

With a total of 2.95 km in India, while the project has 65.75km in Nepal, it has 8 stations and 6 halt stations for the convenience of the passengers. Further, the route includes 47 road crossings and 15 major bridges and 127 minor bridges.

The Customs checking points are made in Jaynagar, India and Inarwa station in Nepal and the Train will pass through the Madhubani district of Bihar and the districts of Dhanusa, Mahottari, and Siraha in Nepal.

Highlights of visit

During a three day visit, the two leaders discussed several new developments that strengthened the relationship between India and Nepal. India handed over the Solu Corridor to help bring electricity to several remote districts in northeastern Nepal. The 90-km corridor is a 132 kV power transmission line and was built under an Indian line of credit for Rs 200 crore. The line will connect those districts to the country’s national grid.