On 18th September, 2020 Konkan Railways (operated by Konkan Railway Corporation) handed over two modern Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DMUC) trains to Nepal Railways for the Jaynagar-Kurtha Broad Gauge Line.The Rails will run between Jaynagar (Bihar) and Kurtha in Dhanusa district from December, 2020.
Key Points:
i.The Trains have been manufactured by Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai with modern amenities and latest AC-AC Propulsion Technology.
ii.They were procured by Nepal’s Railway Department for a price of 84 Crore 65 Lakhs Nepali Rupees.
iii.Each set will have 5 coaches, and will withstand a capacity of 1, 300 passengers at a time.
Jaynagar-Kurtha Railway Line:
i.The train services between Jaynagar and Kurtha will cover a distance of 35-km and will benefit people of both countries.
ii.This line was originally built by British Raj to transport logs from forests at Mahottari, Nepal to India.
iii.India has provided the financial and technical support for the construction of the railway line. The services in the line will start after the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
Nepal begins first Broad-Gauge railway service trails:
With the arrival of the two modern trains, the trial service for Nepal’s first Broad-Gauge railway service began from September 18, 2020.
Projects in-progress:
i.Indian Government is building the 69-km Jaynagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railway at a cost of Rs 10 billion.
ii.The Railway Track is being built in three phases. The first phase links Jaynagar and Kurth, the 17 km long second section will link Kurtha and Bhangaha (Nepal) and the 17 km long third phase extends from Bhangaha to Bardibas.
Recent Related News:
i.On 12th May 2020, TheThiruvananthapuram division of Southern Railways and Kerala Circle of Postal department has initiated a first of its kind to establish tie up with the door delivery and pick up of parcels to help the public during the lockdown.
ii.As a part of 111 kilometre-long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal line project, Indian Railways’ North East Frontier Railway zone is constructing the world’s tallest pier bridge, having height of 141 metres, across river Ijai in Manipur with an outlay of Rs 280 crore.
About Nepal:
Prime Minister -Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli (known as KP Sharma Oli)
Capital – Kathmandu