Nepal and India have signed an agreement to expand rail connectivity for cargo transport from India’s Kolkata/Visakhapatnam to Nepal’s Biratnagar–Jogbani and Nautanwa (Sunauli).
During a meeting between Nepal’s Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha and Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, the bilateral transport treaty was amended to allow all types of cargo to be transported, which is expected to facilitate trade and reduce costs.
Under the new arrangement, cargo can now move via rail from Kolkata/Visakhapatnam to Biratnagar–Jogbani and to Nautanwa (Sunauli), then continue to Bhairahawa by road. Previously, only four types of bulk goods could be transported through these routes.
The ministers also discussed bilateral trade, transport arrangements, infrastructure development, and investment promotion. Minister Sinha highlighted the need to simplify Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification processes and further improve bilateral trade and transport facilitation.
Praising India’s “Neighborhood First Policy”, Sinha emphasized the need for closer coordination and enhanced cooperation to promote investment and trade. Indian Minister Goyal assured that Nepal would be given special priority and urged that remaining issues under discussion be finalized promptly, with relevant bilateral structures kept active and functional.
