Cross-border railway connectivity between Nepal and India is getting a boost with the neighbours planning to operate the Janakpur-Ayodhya railway soon, according to officials.

The Nepal Railway Company, under the aegis of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, is the country’s sole railway service provider. Its primary responsibility is to build railway connectivity between Nepal and India. One of the company officials said they are planning to resume the Janakpur-Ayodhya railway service soon.

Currently, the Nepal-India railway connecting Bijalpura, Mahottari with Jayanagar (India) has been in operation since April 2022 after it was upgraded from a narrow-gauge to a broad-gauge line.

“We used to run trains between Janakpur and Ayodhya, whose service was later halted,” said Balaram Mishra, a member of the Railway Board and former head of the railway department. “Now, we are resuming the same service at least once a week.”

On December 17, 2023, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport devised a plan to run a railway service between Janakpur and the Indian capital, New Delhi, via Ayodhya. However, in the first phase, the service will be between Janakpur and Ayodhya.

According to officials, there is a proposal to run a pair of trains every Saturday. The Indian train will leave Janakpur at 1:30 pm and will reach Ayodhya at around 4:30 am on Sunday. Then, the train will depart for Janakpur at 5:00 pm on Sunday and reach Janakpur on Monday morning.

On January 14 last year, the Indian Ministry of Railways announced that it would operate a special train for pilgrims connecting Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh with Janakpur in Nepal.

The ‘Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Train’ will also pass through Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Kashi, and Prayagraj, according to a statement by the Indian Ministry of Railways. The first train on the route will be flagged off on February 17 from New Delhi. But the plan was cancelled later.

“To realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, Indian Railways is going to run the train covering two of the most significant pilgrimage sites: Ayodhya and Janakpur,” read the statement.

“The initiative will strengthen the bilateral relations and also promote the cultural relations between the two countries.”

Some foreign ministry officials claim that the prime ministers of Nepal and India will flag off the new service, but there is no official confirmation yet.

Mishra said discussions on how to operate the railway regularly continue. Relevant officials are also working on modalities with Indian railway officials.

The proposed seven-day ‘Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train’ tour’s first stop is Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. There, tourists will visit Shri Ram Janmbhumi temple, Hanuman temple, and Bharat Mandir at Nandigram.

Officials said the train service between the two cultural cities of Nepal and India is going to relaunch, with its inauguration due soon.

Mishra said that since Nepal’s railway track is connected with India’s line in Jayanagar, Nepali rail can operate between Janakpur and New Delhi and other Indian cities via Jayanagar.

On January 22, the two sides were planning to operate a special railway service between Janakpur and Ayodhya ahead of Lord Rama’s consecration ceremony, or prana pratishtha at the temple dedicated to the Treta Yuga king, but it was struck off the agenda at the last minute.

The ceremony at Lord Ram’s birthplace took place on January 24. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ram married Sita of Janakpur.