The track has been built in three phases and the 35 kilometres long Jaynagar and Kurtha rail link is a part of the first phase

Train services between India’s Bihar and Nepal’s Dhanusa will begin from mid-December this year, with India handing over two modern trains to Nepal. A PTI report carried by LiveMint has suggested that the train service will be the first such broad-gauge railway service in the Himalayan nation of Nepal.

The report said that the two modern Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains which will run between Jaynagar in Bihar and Kurtha in Nepal’s Dhanusa were handed over by the Konkan Railway.

The railway line will cover a distance of 35 kilometres to benefit citizens of both the nations. The trains have been designed by Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai with the latest AC-AC propulsion technology to provide modern amenities to the passengers.

According to the report, the Nepalese media has informed that the track has been built in three phases. The 35 kilometres long Jaynagar and Kurtha rail link is a part of the first phase while the second phase includes the 17-kilometres long Kurtha-Bhangaha link. The third phase includes a rail link between Bhangaha to Bardibas, also 17 kilometres long.

The 69-km Jaynagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railway is being built at a cost of Rs10 billion with support from the Indian government.

The construction on the lines was completed last year but the test run of the trains started on Friday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, thousands of people gathered at various locations to welcome the trains.

The report quoted Senior Divisional Engineer Devendra Shah saying the service on the lines will begin in December as the border between the two nations are likely to remain closed till then.

Due to the pandemic, the report said, the trains have been parked at the railway station in Jaynagar for maintenance and safety.

“The trains are expected to go into regular operation around the Ram-Janaki marriage ceremony in mid-December when the situation is likely to improve,” said Nepal Railway Company Engineer Binod Ojha.