Kathmandu: Nepal has signed an MoU with India to prepare a detailed project report for the railroad $ 3.15 billion, linking Kathmandu with Indian border town of Raxaul, a statement said on Friday.
The proposed rail line is seen as counter China’s offer to extend the railway to Kathmandu.
Broad gauge line will provide a direct connection Nepal Capital with the Indian railway network, allowing train journey without stopping to all the cities of India.
The two sides signed an SOP to launch passenger train services on the Jaynagar-Kurtha and MoU for the final location survey of the railway line wide between Raxaul and Kathmandu, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy here.
The agreement was signed on Thursday during a fifth and a joint working group meeting of the Project Steering Committee 7th in New Delhi on October 6 to 7, to review the implementation of cross-border rail link is in progress and the overall bilateral cooperation in the railway sector.
On the Indian side, the JWG was led by the executive director of the Ministry of Railways, freight transport traffic, Dr Manoj Singh, and the PSC by Joint Secretary Ministry of External, DPA-III, Anurag Bhushan, and the Nepali headed by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Physical , Keshab Kumar Sharma, in both meetings.
On March 9, Nepal’s cabinet has given approval in principle to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to sign MoU with India to create a plan.
Konkan Railways Corporation has prepared a pre-feasibility study on broad gauge railway project proposed.
Link train to Raxaul, which will be the length of 136 to 198 km, New Delhi is seen as an attempt to counter Chinese influence in Nepal.
According to his understanding, India will complete the detailed project report within 18 months from the commencement of the Agreement, and Nepal will facilitate this process.
The Government of India will bear the expense to prepare.
After the railroad was built, the goods can be transported directly to Kathmandu from India and third countries.
Currently, delivery of which from abroad brought to the Inland Container Depot in Birgunj by Rail and moved to Kathmandu and other locations by road.
SOP of Jaynagar-Kurtha Railway provides technical aspects run passenger trains in the new section and will serve as a guidance document for the start of train services in cross-border rail link that will come with Nepal.
Construction Jaynagar-Kurtha train line is funded by India.
In addition to reaching both the understanding and the agreement, the two sides discussed the works Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas ongoing and broad gauge railway line Jogbani-Biratnagar between India and Nepal, was developed with the help of a grant from the Indian government.
Nepal and India ponder at least five cross-border railway lines that differ between the two countries.
“Preparedness technical of the area along the 34-km has been completed of the railway line, from Jaynagar (India) to Kurtha (Nepal) for the operation of commuter rail service was also reviewed.
The sides Nepali was also informed that a regulatory framework needed to be put in place to facilitate early operationalization.
to Kurtha to Bilajpura (17.25 km) section of railway track, Nepal assured to provide necessary facilitation to complete the work of the earliest, “the statement added.
Both sides also agreed to expedite the completion of the work-biratnagar jogbani rail link along the 18.6 km, and the operation initially.
During the state visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Nepal to India in April 2018, the two neighbors have agreed to build a new railway line with the financial support of India connecting Raxaul and Kathmandu.
In accordance with the joint statement issued at the time, the goal of building the railway is to extend connectivity to enhance people-to-people and promote economic growth and development.
In August 2018, the two sides exchanged MOU to conduct survey and preliminary engineering-cum-traffic from broad gauge line.
India has appointed Konkan Railway Corporation to conduct research.
In accordance survey report, the proposed rail development will require an investment of $ 2.66 to $ 3.15 billion, in addition to the acquisition of land, the tax on the import of various technical and other materials.
Indian side has proposed to build four lines to connect Raxaul to Kathmandu.
Construction is expected to take five years after land clearance from the Nepalese side.