The Kurtha-Bijalpura section, the second section of the ‘Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line’ between India and Nepal, was opened for business from 16 July 2023.Government of India is providing grant-in-aid for the construction of ‘Kurtha-Bijalpura Line’, the second phase of ‘Jayanagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas Cross Border Railline’ with a total project cost of Rs 783.83 crore.In June 2023, during the visit of Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to India, the ‘Kurtha-Bijalpura railway line’ was handed over to the Government of Nepal.The ‘first phase from Jaynagar to Kurtha’ was officially opened in April 2022 and has been in use since then. Role acquisition is still being done for the third phase, which will connect Bijalpura and Bardibas.The total length of ‘Kurtha-Bijalpura Line’ is 17.3 km and the five stations on this section are Kurtha, Pipradi, Loharpatti, Singyahi and Bijalpura.This rail section is the second phase of the 68.7 km long ‘Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas Cross Border Rail Line Project’.
Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross border rail line project
- The project is being undertaken by IRCON and all rail engineering and infrastructure works have been completed.
- 2 sets of 1600 HP DEMU passenger rakes have been supplied by ‘Konkan Rail Corporation Limited’ (KRCL) to operate train services on this route.
- KRCL is being considered by the Nepal Railway Company to run the operation and maintenance of this line until the Nepal Railway Company is able to do so on its own.
- A ‘Draft Standard Operating Procedure’ (SOP) has been prepared by the Government of India and shared with Nepal Railways to start passenger train operations.
- Indian Railways is providing full cooperation to Nepal in running BG service by sharing information, operation and maintenance procedures with Nepal Railway Company as well as providing training to Nepal officials.
- Both Nepal and India are working together to start the rail service between ‘Jaynagar-Kurtha-Bardibas’.
- This will be the first broad gauge passenger rail service in Nepal. Earlier till 2014, Nepal operated narrow gauge service was running between Jaynagar and Janakpur.
- Jaynagar is 4 km from the Indo-Nepal border. On this route is Janakpur, a famous pilgrimage center of Nepal, which is 29 km from Jaynagar.
- As the first phase of this project, the rail line from Jaynagar in Madhubani district of Bihar has been connected to Kurtha in Nepal.
- The length of Jaynagar-Kurtha section is 34.90 km.
- It is a part of the ‘Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas Rail (68.72 km) Project’ which is fully funded by the Government of India.
- The Government of India is providing grant-in-aid for the construction of the second phase ‘Kurtha-Bijalpura Line’ with a total project cost of Rs 783.83 crore.
- The new line will be constructed after Bijalpura till Bardibas after the Nepal Government hands over the land for the project.