2 min readMar 23, 2026 02:28 PM IST
Indo-Nepal rail project: The Ministry of Railways has completed the Final Location Survey (FLS) and prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Raxaul-Kathmandu new line project. The 136-km-long new rail line project will further improve the connectivity between the two nations and promote economic growth and development.
On April 7, 2018, the governments of India and Nepal issued a joint statement to expand rail connectivity, agreeing to construct a new electrified railway line, funded by India, linking the border city of Raxaul in India with Kathmandu in Nepal.
Indo-Nepal rail service
In a written statement in Rajya Sabha on March 20, 2026, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “Pashupatinath Dham is located outside India in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nearest Railway station is Raxaul, which is well connected with railway network. Final Location Survey of Raxaul (India)-Kathmandu (Pashupatinath) new line (136 Km) has been completed and Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared.”
The Union Minister added that once the DPR is prepared, the project’s sanction requires consultations with various stakeholders, including state governments, along with necessary approvals such as appraisal by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance.
“As sanctioning of projects is a continuous and dynamic process, exact timelines depends upon appraisals and approvals by various stakeholders,” Vaishnaw said. The Railway Minister was responding to questions raised by Rajya Sabha MP Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha.
India-Nepal rail connectivity
Last year, India and Nepal exchanged Letters of Exchange (LoE) to amend the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit. This agreement will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight, including bulk cargo, between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal.
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