India to Nepal in just 3 hours, THIS new rail line to be laid between Bihar and..., travellers can reach Pokhara, Kathmandu in just...
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New Delhi: A direct train from New Delhi to Kathmandu is likely to be launched soon. According to the reports, preparations for laying a new railway line from Raxaul in Bihar to Nepal's Kathmandu are in the final stages. A 136-kilometer-long track will be constructed at a cost of whopping Rs 25,000 crore. The track will feature 13 railway stations along the route. Since Raxaul is already directly connected to Delhi, once the new rail line is completed, the national capital will also have a direct rail link to Kathmandu.
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited has initiated the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the Raxaul-Kathmandu railway line. The railway will spend Rs 37 crore on the survey. Based on the FLS report, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the rail line will be prepared. After that, the tender process for laying the tracks will begin.
To recall, a survey for the 136-kilometer Raxaul-Kathmandu link railway line was conducted in the year 2023. At that time, the project was estimated to cost around Rs 25,000 crore. The effort to connect New Delhi to Kathmandu via rail began in the year 2022.
According to officials from the Railway Board, the final survey is currently underway. This includes examining feasibility and land availability. There is already an existing railway track from Delhi to Raxaul. To connect Delhi to Kathmandu, a new 136-kilometer line will need to be laid from Raxaul to Kathmandu. Regarding this, Mantu Kumar, Secretary to the Deputy CVO Engineering of East Central Railway, has released a report. Kathmandu to Raxaul in just 2–3 hours:
After the completion of the track, India will use both road and rail routes to enhance trade with Nepal. The Raxaul Railway Station, located near the Nepal border, is directly connected to Delhi. India will only need to build a 136 km new railway line from Raxaul to Kathmandu.
The distance between Raxaul and Kathmandu is about 136 kilometers. Currently, it takes around 5 hours to cover this distance by road. Once the railway line is ready, the same distance can be covered in just 2 to 3 hours. Benefits for both India and Nepal: After the completion of the route, it will be convenient for Indian tourists to visit Pokhara, Kathmandu, Phewa Lake, Gupteshwar Cave, Chandragiri Hills, as well as the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp treks
Nepali tourists travel to Vaishali, Kesariya, and Rajgir in India.
For Indians, Nepal is home to spiritual sites such as the Pashupatinath Temple, Muktinath Temple, Janakpur, and the Kalika Temple in Baglung. For Nepalis, important religious destinations in India include Sitamarhi, Khageshwarnath Temple, and Baba Dham.
Currently, road transport is the only means of trade between the two nations, which is time-consuming and costly.
A new rail service will enhance connectivity, making it easier and more cost-effective for goods exported from India to reach Nepal.
Nepal has traditionally been a natural ally of India. However, growing Chinese influence has led to some erosion of mutual trust and created a political divide. Given the current global scenario, both countries need each other more than ever.
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