Biratnagar [Nepal], July 22 – The first direct commercial freight train carrying a consignment of canola grains arrived at the Nepal Customs Yard in Biratnagar from Kolkata Port, marking the operationalisation of the amended India-Nepal rail transit framework.
The 40-wagon freight train reached Biratnagar on July 20 via the Indian Customs Yard at Jogbani. It is the first commercial cargo train to use the cross-border rail corridor after India and Nepal signed a Letter of Exchange in November 2025 amending the Protocol to the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit.
The development marks a significant step in expanding cross-border rail connectivity and trade between the two countries.
The amended protocol allows the direct rail movement of both containerised and bulk cargo from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports to designated rail points in Nepal including the Nepal Customs Yard at Biratnagar.
According to reports, officials said the first commercial freight movement represents the practical implementation of the amended transit framework and enables full commercial use of the cross-border rail link.
The Jogbani-Biratnagar broad-gauge rail link was jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal’s then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on June 1, 2023. Built with grant assistance from the Government of India, the project was intended to facilitate seamless freight movement between the two countries.
Commercial operations began after India and Nepal signed the Letter of Exchange on November 13, 2025, amending the transit protocol. The agreement was signed in the presence of India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha.
The direct rail service is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve transit efficiency for Nepal, strengthen its access to Indian ports and boost bilateral trade. It also reinforces India’s role as Nepal’s principal transit partner.
