[India willing to study Kathmandu-Raxaul railway]
By Rabindra Dhungel, 28 August 2020A. The Government of India has shown interest in advancing the study of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway. Although the Indian team wanted to come to Nepal for the study, it could not be given immediate permission due to Kovid-19, according to the Railway Department.
The railway department has asked the home ministry to allow them to come to Nepal. He said that they were not allowed to come immediately as the covid infection was spreading. It may not be possible to call the team for another month or two. “Covid can only move forward once the infection has subsided,” he said.
The agreement was reached during the 4th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) held in Nepal two years ago. The Indian government had agreed to study the railway using its own investment and technology. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi were present at the agreement reached between Nepal and the Indian side.
An agreement was reached to build railways at five places in the border area with the financial and technical assistance of the Government of India. As per the agreement, construction has already started in Jayanagar-Kurtha and Biratnagar-Jogbani. The other three railways to be constructed in the border area are Jalpaiguri-Kankadvitta, Nautanhawa-Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj.