The upgradation and expansion works of Janakpur-Jaynagar broad-gauge railway are in their final stages, officials confirmed after successfully completing a test run on the recently laid track on Thursday.

High-level officials from Nepal and India, including Director General of the Department of Railways Balaram Mishra and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, were also present on the occasion. Ravi Sahay, the site chief of Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON), said the project will be completed by mid-December.

Technicians from Nepal and India are currently making preparations to operate a train between Jaynagar and Kurtha in the first phase.

The Rs 8.8 billion project is divided into three segments. The first phase comprises construction of a 35km segment between Jaynagar and Kurtha; the second is constructing a 17km segment from Kurtha to Bhangaha, Mahottari; and the third constructing a 17km segment from Bhangaha to Bardibas, Mahottari. “The construction of 69 km track will be completed within three years,” said engineer Binod Ojha of Nepal Railway Company, adding that the construction works in Jaynagar-Kurtha (35 km) is almost completed.

Railway service between Janakpur-Jaynagar was suspended four years ago. This track was built nearly 80 years ago, when India was still under British colonial rule, to transport timbers from the forest of Mahottari to India. The railway line spanned 52 km from Bijulpura in Mahottari, Nepal, to Jaynagar in Bihar, India, at that time. The Janakpur-Jaynagar segment of the rail line was heavily damaged as a result of flood 15 years ago.