India, June 2026 --- India and Nepal convened technical and project-steering talks to advance cross-border rail connectivity, reflecting a broader push to integrate regional infrastructure and support bilateral mobility. The meetings were held as the 10th Project Steering Committee and the 8th Joint Working Group and concentrated on moving planned passenger services and gauge-conversion projects toward implementation.
Delegations reviewed standard operating procedures envisaged for the commencement of passenger train services on the Janakpur–Ayodhya section and examined progress reports and surveys for other links. Officials considered the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the proposed Raxaul–Kathmandu broad-gauge connection and discussed implementation steps for the Jaynagar–Bijalpura–Bardibas and Jogbani–Biratnagar broad-gauge lines being developed with Indian assistance.
The discussions also covered technical support for Nepal’s East–West Railway Link, which underpins internal connectivity across the Terai and links to cross-border routes. Advancing SOPs for passenger services on the Janakpur–Ayodhya corridor signals a transition from planning toward operational readiness, with implications for cross-border passenger flows, pilgrimage traffic, and multimodal integration at border nodes.
Viewed against recent bilateral infrastructure engagement, these meetings underscore an incremental, project-by-project strategy—combining surveys, SOPs and technical assistance—to stitch regional corridors into functioning services. For rail operators and infrastructure planners, the near-term priorities are finalising technical reports (such as FLS), agreeing operational protocols, and clarifying timelines and responsibilities to move from schematic plans to scheduled services.
Source: The Hindu
India-Nepal Progress On Cross‑Border Rail Connectivity
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Cross-border rail links are a priority for regional connectivity and pilgrimage traffic between India and Nepal; meetings in Kathmandu on June 11–12 focused on operationalising passenger services and advancing India-assisted broad-gauge projects. Policymakers discussed standard operating procedures for Janakpur–Ayodhya services and technical work on multiple corridor links that will affect passenger movement and freight flows.
