Key projects under review included the Raxaul-Kathmandu Broad Gauge (BG) railway line, Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas BG railway line, and Jogbani-Biratnagar BG railway line. The latter two projects are being developed with grant assistance from the Government of India.
The discussions also focused on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for initiating passenger train services on the Janakpur-Ayodhya section. Additionally, both countries reviewed the Final Location Survey (FLS) report of the proposed Raxaul-Kathmandu BG railway link.
Technical support for Nepal’s East-West Railway project and the potential for expanding railway networks between the two nations were important topics during the meetings, emphasizing the mutual goal of promoting economic growth through enhanced rail connectivity.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal stated that both sides agreed to maintain close engagement to further strengthen cooperation in the railway sector.
In November 2025, India and Nepal exchanged a Letter of Exchange (LoE) to amend the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit. This amendment facilitates rail-based freight movement between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), including bulk cargo, under an expanded definition. Key transit corridors benefiting from this change include Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa (Sunauli).
This enhancement strengthens multimodal trade connectivity between India and Nepal, and also supports Nepal’s trade with third countries. The direct rail link along Jogbani to Biratnagar enables efficient transport of containerized and bulk cargo from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station in Morang District, near Biratnagar.
These collaborative efforts mark significant progress in India-Nepal railway cooperation aimed at fostering regional development and economic integration.
