Govt set to operate railway service on two routes in Tarai by January 2019

Ramesh Lamsal
KATHMANDU, June 21: The government has made preparation to bring Jayanagar-Janakpur-Kurtha and Bathnaha-Biratnagar railways into operation by January next year.

According to the Department of Railways, officials of Nepal and India held discussion on Tuesday and Wednesday for technical preparation for the operation of railways.

Spokesperson at the Department, Prakash Bhakta Upadhyay, said that Secretaries at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport—Keshav Kumar Sharma and Rajendra Raj Sharma, Director General of the Department, Ananta Acharya, Senior Divisional Engineer Aman Chitrakar, among others were present on the occasion.
According to the Department, discussion regarding preparedness to bring the railways into operation was held.

GOVT. STILL SANS RAILWAYS ACT
Although preparation was underway for the operation of rail service, the government has not yet prepared the Railways Act.

The government has to table the Railways Bill in the federal parliament by preparing it. Preparation was underway to formulate the bill in this regard.

Similarly, the bodies concerned have to pay attention regarding availability and management of technical human resources.

As per the agreement, an understanding would be reached over technical and other administrative issues in the joint meeting of both countries scheduled from July 9-19.

Spokesperson Upadhyay said the 35 kilometers Janakpur-Jayanagar railway would be complete by 2018-end. Officials of the Indian Railway Department were here in Nepal to discuss modality of the project. The Indian Railway Department has agreed to will provide compartment couches and other technical manpower.

The Department is also preparing to sign an agreement with Nepal to start the 18 kilometers Biratnagar-Bathanaha railway. Its speed will be 100 per hour.

Infrastructure development has been completed to run the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway, said the Department. Track laying along the route been completed. Indian government has provided Rs 10 billion for the project. Likewise, preliminary study of Raxaul-Kathmandu railway is underway.