Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha and visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Tuesday discussed the proposed cross-border Kathmandu-Raxaul railway.

During the courtesy call by the Indian secretary, they discussed railways, treaties and agreements between Nepal and India, and projects undertaken by the Indian companies, according to the minister’s secretariat.

The proposed broad-gauge line will give the Nepali capital a direct connection with the Indian railway network, enabling uninterrupted train travel to all Indian cities.

The train link to Raxaul, which will be between 136 and 198 kilometres long, is seen as New Delhi’s attempt to counter Chinese influence in Nepal with its northern neighbour also working on a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Kathmandu-Kerung Cross-Border Railway.

Nepal and India on October 7 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on conducting a final location survey (FLS) for the proposed broad gauge railway line between the two cities. Officials said an FLS is done to prepare working details and make cost estimates.

Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra also raised the issue of contract renewal for the operation of the Jayanagar-Kurtha railway operated by an Indian company. India’s Konkan Railways Corporation Limited (KRCL) has been operating the country’s sole railway service.

The railway had come into operation in April 2022 when it was jointly flagged off by then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was considered a milestone in strengthening cross-border connectivity between Nepal and India.

Kwatra also requested Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha to speed up the construction of the access road of the Arun III hydropower project, the largest Indian-backed project in Nepal.

Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a two-day official visit at an invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal.