Biratnagar, May 1

A train ferrying raw materials for industries in Nepal arrived at Bathanaha of India near Biratnagar yesterday.

For the first time, a train carrying raw materials from a third country arrived in Bathanaha via Kolkata port.

Central member Abinash Bohara at the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that import of raw materials for industries and other commodities through train would reduce transport cost and time.

Earlier, Birgunj border point alone was using train to ferry goods. Of late, India’s Railway Department had given permission to the Biratnagar border point as well to import goods and raw materials by train.

The train that was sent as trial for the first time took five days to arrive in Bathanaha station from Kolkata port.

Industrialists, however, say that it would be burdensome as the goods brought by the train would be unloaded seven kilometres away from the Biratnagar border point.  Construction of integrated check post on the Indian side is under way while construction of check post on the Nepali side has failed to pick up pace.

Work is under way to construct a dam to bring the train up to Katahari Rural Municipality on the Nepali side from Bathanaha.