Biratnagar, Nepal, July 22 (ANI): In a major milestone for India-Nepal trade and connectivity, the first direct commercial freight train carrying a consignment of canola grain arrived at the Nepal Customs Yard (NCY) in Biratnagar from Kolkata Port on July 20, marking the operationalization of the amended India-Nepal rail transit framework.
The 40-wagon train reached Biratnagar via the Indian Customs Yard at Jogbani, becoming the first commercial cargo train to use the cross-border rail corridor following the signing of the Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Protocol to the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit in November 2025.
The development is seen as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral economic connectivity and improving cross-border rail logistics between the two neighboring countries.
The Jogbani, India-Biratnagar, Nepal, broad-gauge cross-border rail link was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” on June 1, 2023. Built with grant assistance from the Government of India, the project was conceived to facilitate seamless freight movement between the two countries.
However, commercial operations required amendments to the existing protocol under the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit. Following sustained diplomatic engagement, both sides signed the Letter of Exchange on Nov. 13, 2025, in the presence of Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s then-Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Anil Kumar Sinha.
The amended protocol permits direct rail movement of both containerized and bulk cargo from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to designated rail points in Nepal, including the Nepal Customs Yard in Biratnagar.
Officials said the first commercial freight movement marks the practical implementation of the amended transit framework and unlocks the full potential of the cross-border rail link.
The direct rail service is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve transit efficiency for Nepal, strengthen its access to Indian ports, and further boost bilateral trade while reinforcing India’s role as Nepal’s principal transit partner. (ANI)
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