Nepalgunj, July 17

The government is preparing to start the process of land acquisition for the proposed cross-border railway between India’s Rupaidiya and Kohalpur in Banke after India finalised the detailed project report and handed it to the Government of Nepal.

The 18.5-km railway track will start from Rupaidiya Railway Station and pass through Jayaspur, Indrapur, Guruwa Gaun, Hawaldalpur, Rajhena and end in Kohalpur.

While India, upon the completion of the survey-related work by its technicians, has submitted a report of the same to Banke District Administration, it has submitted the project DPR to the Railway Department.

As per the DPR, the proposed railway track will run parallel and between the East-West Highway and the Postal Highway.

“Constructing the railway above the East-West Highway means clearing a huge swathe of national parks to make way for laying the railway track. So the project report has been devised in such a way that the sanctuaries are safe,” said Railway Department Engineer Kiran Karki.

“As per the DPR, the railway line will be constructed two to three kilometres away from the East-West Highway. Some human settlements may fall on the way, but I hope the government will do the needful to manage the settlements,” Karki added.

The government aims to develop 4,000-km railway network in two decades. According to officials at the Railway Department, 750-km long railway network will be developed in five years.