India-Nepal Railway Connectivity Project
{{Short description|Developmental project for India and Nepal}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{About|India Nepal Railway Connectivity Project|India Nepal relations|India-Nepal relations}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations
| title = India Nepal Connectivity Project
| party1 = India
| party2 = Nepal
| flagvariant1 = {{flag|India}}
| flagvariant2 = {{flag|Nepal}}
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = India-Nepal Railway Connectivity Project
| country = {{plainlist|
{{flag|India}}
{{flag|Nepal}}
}}
| ministry = Ministry of External Affairs
| current_status = {{green|Active}}
| website = {{URL|www.mea.gov.in}}
{{URL|www.mea.gov.np}}
| status =
| mission_statement = "To develop better connectivity for both the countries by rail"
| type = Rail transport
| owner = Government of India Government of Nepal
| founder = India and Nepal
| established = {{start date and age|2017}}
|key_people={{flag|India}}
- Narendra Modi
(Prime Minister) - Ashwini Vaishnaw
(Minister of Railways) - S. Jaishankar
(Minister of Foreign Affairs)
{{flag|Nepal}}
- K. P. Sharma Oli
(Prime Minister) - Devendra Dahal
(Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport)}}
The India-Nepal Railway Connectivity Project is a collaborative initiative between India and Nepal aimed at enhancing rail connectivity between the two neighboring countries. The project is designed to facilitate trade, tourism, and regional integration by improving cross-border transportation infrastructure.{{Cite web |title=Ministry of External Affairs |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/39121/Meetings+of+Project+Steering+Committee+and+Joint+Working+Group+on+IndiaNepal+crossborder+railway+links+held+in+New+Delhi+February+2728+2025 |website=MEA}} Several railway links are planned or under development under this initiative, including the Jaynagar–Bardibas Railway, Raxaul–Kathmandu Railway, Jogbani–Biratnagar Railway, and New Jalpaiguri–Kakarbhitta Railway.{{Cite news |title=India plans rail tracks through Nepal to bypass Chicken's Neck |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/india-plans-rail-tracks-through-nepal-to-bypass-chickens-neck/articleshow/111767186.cms |access-date=2025-03-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |title=Rail Link between Nepal and India |url=https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-analysis/rail-link-between-nepal-and-india |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Drishti IAS |language=en}}
The Indian Government is playing a major role in funding and executing these projects, primarily through IRCON International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indian Railways.{{Cite web |title=Rail Link between Nepal and India |url=https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-analysis/rail-link-between-nepal-and-india |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Drishti IAS |language=en}} Nepal's railway operations are overseen by the Nepal Railway Company.
Background
{{Main|India–Nepal relations}}
Historically, India and Nepal shared multiple railway links under the India Nepal Friendship Treaty, some operational since the early 20th century. However, many of these routes became inactive over time. In recent years, both governments have prioritized the revival and expansion of cross-border railways to enhance economic and social ties.{{Cite web |title=रेलवे बन रहा भारत-नेपाल संबंधों की कड़ी, जयनगर-जनकपुर विस्तारित रेल लाइन पर रविवार से शुरू होगी सेवा - India Nepal Railway Network Railway is becoming the link of India Nepal relations rail service will start from Sunday on Jaynagar Janakpur extended rail line |url=https://www.jagran.com/news/national-india-nepal-railway-network-railway-is-becoming-the-link-of-india-nepal-relations-rail-service-will-start-from-sunday-on-jaynagar-janakpur-extended-rail-line-23472332.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Jagran |language=hi}} However, after India's independence and Nepal's transition from monarchy to democracy, several of these routes became inactive or discontinued due to infrastructure decay and policy changes.
Recognizing the importance of modernizing rail connectivity, India and Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to revive and expand cross-border railway links.{{Cite news |title=Nepal-India sign MoU for Kathmandu-Raxaul railway link |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/nepal-india-sign-mou-for-kathmandu-raxaul-railway-link/articleshow/86872049.cms |access-date=2025-03-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Key Railway Projects
{{Main|Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line|Raxaul–Kathmandu railway line}}
File:Nepal railway train is standing at Janakpur Dham railway station.jpg.]]
=Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line=
The Jaynagar–Bardibas railway{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Rajesh Kumar |date=2023-08-13 |title=Railways planning five new lines along Nepal, Bangladesh borders |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/story/thesundaystandard/2023/aug/13/railways-planning-fivenew-lines-along-nepalbangladesh-borders-2604679.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Cross-border rail link between Nepal and India becomes operational |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/cross-border-rail-link-between-nepal-and-india-becomes-operational/articleshow/101803891.cms |access-date=2025-03-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} is a key railway link connecting Jaynagar in Bihar, India, to Bardibas in Nepal.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2025-03-05 |title=India, Nepal take stock of implementation of key cross-border railway projects |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-nepal-take-stock-of-implementation-of-key-cross-border-railway-projects-3431999 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://farakdhar.com/story/56933/|title=जनकपुर-जयनगर रेल्वे ट्रयाकको परीक्षण सम्पन्न, सञ्चालन हुने टुंगो छैन |trans-title=The Janakpur-Jayanagar railway track has been tested, the operation is not yet finished |language=Nepali |website=Farakdhar {{pipe}}{{pipe}} Nepal's Online Magazine|access-date=7 January 2023}}{{Cite web|title=India – Nepal broad gauge passenger train service launched |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/india-nepal-broad-gauge-passenger-train-service-launched/61314.article |access-date=8 June 2024 |publisher=Railway Gazette International |date=5 April 2022}}
Stations between Jaynagar to Bijalpura:{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/first-broad-guage-passenger-link-between-india-and-nepal-566516.html |title=Explained: First Broad Gauge Passenger Train Between India And Nepal |date=10 April 2022 |publisher=India Times |access-date=9 June 2024}}
- Jaynagar (India)
- Inarwan (Nepal)
- Khajuri (Halt)
- Baidehi
- Parbaha
- Janakpurdham
- Kurtha
- Khutta Pipradhi
- Loharpatti
- Singyahi
- Bhangaha (formerly Bijalpura)
The project is being developed in multiple phases:
- Phase 1 (Jaynagar–Kurtha, 34 km) was inaugurated in 2022
- Phase 2 (Kurtha–Bijalpura, 17 km) is under development
- Phase 3 (Bijalpura–Bardibas, 17 km) is planned for future expansion
=Raxaul–Kathmandu railway line=
The Raxaul–Kathmandu railway{{Cite web |title=Nepal to raise its concerns about the DPR of Raxaul-Kathmandu railway |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/01/16/nepal-to-raise-its-concerns-about-the-dpr-of-raxaul-kathmandu-railway |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} is a proposed cross-border rail project connecting Raxaul (Bihar, India) with Kathmandu (Nepal). India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2018 for feasibility studies, with the project expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities.{{Cite web |title=Embassy of India Kathmandu, Nepal |url=https://www.indembkathmandu.gov.in/media-detail/256 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.indembkathmandu.gov.in |language=en}}
=Jogbani–Biratnagar railway line=
The Jogbani–Biratnagar railway line{{Cite web |title=Nepal तक जाने को बेताब Indian Railway, जोगबनी-विराटनगर प्रोजेक्ट तैयार, काडमांडू से दिल्ली तक हलचल |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/araria/indian-railway-jogbani-viratnagar-rail-project-ready-nepal-rail-work-complete/articleshow/99843703.cms |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}} is another key railway link aimed at boosting trade and passenger connectivity.
- Phase 1 (8 km from Jogbani to Biratnagar) is under construction
- Phase 2 (further expansion towards Nepal's interior regions) is planned
=New Jalpaiguri–Kakarbhitta railway line=
The New Jalpaiguri–Kakarbhitta railway line{{Cite web |title=India, Nepal to construct new railway link for smooth people-to-people transit |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/india-nepal-to-construct-new-railway-link-for-smooth-people-to-people-transit201804071712060001/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=ANI News |language=en}} is a proposed railway project to link New Jalpaiguri (West Bengal, India) with Kakarbhitta (Nepal). It aims to enhance connectivity between eastern Nepal and India's northeastern states.
Strategic importance
{{Further|Tourism in Nepal}}
Since, Nepal's largest trade partner is India,{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=Trade and Commerce |url=https://in.nepalembassy.gov.np/trade-and-commerce/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=New Delhi, India - Embassy of Nepal |language=en-US}} the India Nepal Railways Connectivity Project will:
- Strengthen economic ties by facilitating trade and transportation.
- Improve tourism by making travel between India and Nepal more convenient.
- Enhance regional integration by connecting Nepal with India's broader railway network.
See also
{{Portal bar|India|Railways|Transport|Nepal}}