To discuss the proposed Raxaul-Kathmandu railway, representatives of India’s Konkan Railway Corporation Limited are scheduled to visit Nepal. The corporation had submitted a draft of the final location survey, similar to a detailed project report, to Nepal in June. Deciding the cross-border railway’s technical and financial viability depends heavily on this report.
The progress of the proposed railway, which would link Kathmandu with the Indian town of Raxaul, is understood in the context of China’s and India’s attempts to influence Nepal. Before the report is finalized, Nepali officials are reviewing it and making recommendations. With a planned operating speed of 120 km/h, the railway is intended to be 141 km long, including a 41 km tunnel.
With the purchase of land excluded, the estimated cost of construction is INR 2.39 billion (Rs 3.82 billion). The government is looking for clarifications on technical aspects, potential ways to cut costs, and ways to shorten the railway’s length. The Raxaul-Kathmandu railway project will begin construction once the report is finalized.
