Kathmandu- India has handed over the Jaynagar-Kurtha cross-border railway to the Government of Nepal today.

The railway, built with the help of the Government of India, was handed over to  Nepal Railway Company Limited by IRCON International Ltd (on behalf of Government of India).

Once operationalized, this would be the first broad gauge cross-border rail link between India and Nepal, and would further boost trade and commerce activities as well as people to people linkages between the two countries.

The 34.9 km Jaynagar-Kurtha section, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.77 billion under the financial assistance of the Government of India, is part of the 68.72 km Jayanagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas railway line. This section was earlier a narrow yard railway line between Jayanagar and Bijalpura.

The Jaynagar-Kurtha section has a total of 8 stations and small stations, including the historically important city of Janakpur.