Govt fast tracks Indo-Nepal rail project

The Central government has decided to expedite the railway project linking Barhni in Uttar Pradesh to Kathmandu in Nepal. According to sources, the survey for a new broad gauge line from Barhni to Kathmandu has already been sanctioned but the proposed project can start only after the inter-governmental MoU is signed. In September 2016, a draft MoU was shared by the Modi government with the government of Nepal regarding reconnaissance engineering-cum-traffic survey of the proposed line. However, till date, no response has been received from the Nepal government, said the railway minister. Last year, it was also reported that to facilitate people-to-people contact and bulk movement of goods, India will build a strategic railway link between Raxaul in Bihar and Kathmandu. It was agreed that the Indian government would carry out preparatory survey work within one year in consultation with the Nepal government. Also, the implementation and funding modalities of the project would be finalized by the two sides based on the DPR.