India–Nepal Rail Push: Talks Advance On Raxaul–Kathmandu Link

India and Nepal have reviewed progress on the proposed Raxaul–Kathmandu railway corridor and other cross-border rail projects at high-level meetings held in Kathmandu on June 11–12, signaling a fresh push to deepen passenger and freight connectivity between the two neighbors. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement to further strengthen cooperation in the railway sector, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Officials discussed the Final Location Survey (FLS) report for the proposed 136 km broad gauge Raxaul–Kathmandu line during the 10th Project Steering Committee and 8th Joint Working Group meetings, while also taking stock of work on the Jaynagar–Bijalpura–Bardibas and Jogbani–Biratnagar railway lines and plans for a Janakpur–Ayodhya passenger service. The new rail link is expected to give Kathmandu a direct connection to the Indian Railways network, improving access for tourists, businesses and pilgrims, particularly those visiting the Pashupatinath Temple, with Raxaul in Bihar currently serving as the nearest railhead.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed Parliament that the FLS for the Raxaul–Kathmandu route is complete and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared, which will now require consultations with stakeholders and clearances from bodies such as NITI Aayog and the finance ministry before sanction. The project stems from a 2018 bilateral agreement to develop a new electrified railway linking Raxaul with the Nepali capital.

During the latest talks, the two governments also examined standard operating procedures for launching passenger services on the proposed Janakpur–Ayodhya sector, options for technical support to Nepal’s planned East–West Railway, and the scope for additional rail connections.

On the trade side, the discussions build on a November 2025 amendment to the Protocol to the India–Nepal Treaty of Transit, which enables rail-based freight, including bulk cargo, between Jogbani and Biratnagar and extends connectivity via key corridors to Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports. The Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link, built with Indian grant assistance and inaugurated by the two prime ministers in June 2023, allows cargo to move directly by rail and is expected to strengthen logistics, support Nepal’s third-country trade and further deepen bilateral economic ties.