KATHMANDU: The government has made preparations 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 discussions, on Tuesday and Wednesday, regarding technical preparation to give way to 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.

However, despite preparation being underway for the operation of railway service, the government has not yet prepared the Railways Act. The government has to table the Railways Bill in the federal parliament. Preparation is 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 to 19.

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

Infrastructure development has been completed to run the Janakpur-Jayanagar railway, said the Department of Railways. Track laying along the route has been completed. It has been learnt that the Indian government has provided Rs 10 billion for the project.

The Indian Railway Department is also preparing to sign an agreement with Nepal to start the 18-kilometre Biratnagar-Bathanaha railway. Likewise, preliminary study of Raxaul-Kathmandu railway is underway.