Kathmandu, July 9

The sixth meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the implementation of the Nepal-India Cross Border Rail Link Projects was held here today, with both sides agreeing to put concerted efforts in resolving all the issues expeditiously for completion of the railway lines from Jayanagar to Janakpur-Kurtha and from Jogbani to Biratnagar Customs Yard by the October 2018 timeline.

A media release issued here by the Embassy of India states that the meeting also agreed to take forward work in the remaining stretches of the two rail projects, from Kurtha-Bijalpura-Bardibas and from Biratnagar Customs Yard-Biratnagar sections with priority.

The meeting — which was co-chaired by Keshab Kumar Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), and Namgya Khampa, joint secretary (DPA-III), Ministry of External Affairs, India — also stressed for early finalisation of the memorandum of understanding for Preliminary Engineering cum Traffic Survey of the Raxaul-Kathmandu rail line.

“The meeting appreciated the work undertaken in the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the remaining three rail links — New Jalpaiguri-Kakarbhitta, Nautanwa-Bhairahawa, and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj, which are to be implemented under Phase-II,” the release says.

The Nepali side conveyed its deep appreciation for the support of the Indian government in the development of the Nepal-India cross-border rail links, which would enhance people-to-people linkages between the two countries and promote economic growth and development in the region.

Meanwhile, the India side expressed its appreciation for Nepal government’s commitment to expeditiously resolve all the outstanding issues, including making available remaining land required for completion of the ongoing rail link projects.