Biratnagar, December 22:

India has closed the meter gauge railway service from Katihar to Jogbani to upgrade it into a broad gauge line since Friday.

Indian officials said the broad gauge line will be operational from March 31.

The construction work on broad gauge line linking Jogbani to Katihar (108 km) would be completed within three and a half months.

According to general manager at the Department of Railway Service of India Mehatab Singh, the railway services on meter gauge lines will be closed till then. For now, passengers leaving from Jogbani to different Indian cities will have to go to Katihar to catch a train.

The broad gauge line will link Jogbani to different Indian towns like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Morang Chamber of Commerce and Industries said Nepal had been seeking a broad gauge line on the route since 34 years ago.

Nepali businessmen had to bring their imports from Kolkata on trucks and tankers due to the lack of broad gauge railway line from Katihar to Jogbani.

The construction of the broad gauge line is expected to significantly benefit Nepali businessmen in the eastern region.