The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) has initiated inter-governmental coordination work to bring cargo rail up to Nepal Customs Yard at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Budhnagar of Biratnagar Metropolitan City from Bathnaha of India.
As there was an indication of delay in the construction of the railway extension up to Kathari of Morang district, the government has initiated discussion to bring the cargo rail to Budhnagar.
Spokesperson at the MoICS Dr. Narayan Prasad Regmi said that the process was initiated to bring train up to the ICP’s train station according to the experts’ suggestions for the same.
According to the experts, if the Indian side allowed Nepal to use the already constructed railway lines and gave consent to develop infrastructure at the remaining places, train could be brought up to the ICP within nine months.
Currently, work is underway at the stretch of the proposed railway other than the 18.6 km which is completed while the testing of the railway track from Bathnaha Railway Station to Nepal Custom Yard at Budhnagar has also been completed.
Consultant of the Asian Development Shyam Dahal and former Joint Secretary of the MoICS, Rabi Shankar Sainju have given a report that the cargo train could be brought up to the ICP.
The ministry has started working upon the recommendations of the experts duo.
In the first phase, Nepal has to construct an access track up to the customs yard and ICP. As per the preliminary estimates, it would take Rs. 68.4 million to construct the yard and Rs. 6.3 million for the access road.
In the second phase, a 40-metre-wide container platform is proposed in the land of railway and remaining space in the ICP. It would take Rs. 4.28 million. After the first and second phase expansion, the container yard will be 71-metre-wide.
Customs Office in Biratnagar will coordinate with the ICP, railway and Indian customs to operate the cargo rail.
Chief of the office Tara Prasad Sapkota said that the issue of cargo train operation would be discussed at the Trade Facilitation Meeting between Nepal and India.
According to him, the cargo train will bring down the transportation cost for the export to India and third country and vice-versa by 35 per cent. Currently, Nepal exports goods to India and third countries via Birgunj border point and if the railway came into operation, the exports will happen through Biratnagar border.
A few days ago, entrepreneurs in Biratnagar had urged Finance Minister Janardan Sharma to take initiative to bring the cargo train to the city.
Source : TRN,
