The Nepal Weekly 
July 18, 2023
Nepal’s Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Prakash Jwala, launched the operations on the Kurtha-Bijalpura rail section of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line amidst a ceremony held at Bijalpura. The Deputy Chief of Indian Embassy Prasanna Shrivastava, local leaders from Madhesh Pradesh and government officials were also present on the occasion.
The rail section was handed over to the Nepal government during the visit paid by Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to India last month. The Kurtha-Bijalpura line covers a total of 17.3 km and this stretch is dotted with 5 stations namely Kurtha, Pipradi, Loharpatti, Singyahi & Bijalpura, according to a press release issued by Indian Embassy, Kathmandu.
This is the second phase of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line project being constructed under the Indian grant assistance at the total project cost of INR 783.83 Crores. The first phase from Jaynagar to Kurtha was inaugurated in April last year and has been operational since then. The land acquisition for the third phase connecting Bijalpura to Bardibas is presently underway, according to Indian Embassy sources.
“This rail connectivity will provide tremendous boost to the people-to-people linkages between the two countries and will enhance trade and tourism in Nepal,” remarked minister Jwala on the occasion. Deputy chief of the embassy Shrivastava, in his remarks highlighted the continued commitment of the Government of India to work towards further strengthening of the development partnership for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.
