India, Nepal expand transit treaty to boost rail-based trade

Spread the news

The North News

New Delhi, November 13

India and Nepal have agreed to expand rail-based freight movement between the two countries after senior ministers met in New Delhi on Thursday. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held bilateral talks with Nepal’s Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, during which both sides exchanged a Letter of Exchange amending the Protocol to the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Transit.

The updated agreement will allow rail freight — including bulk cargo — to move directly between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal. The expansion also covers major transit corridors such as Kolkata–Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli) and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli), strengthening multimodal connectivity for Nepal’s trade, including with third countries.

Officials said the new arrangement enables seamless movement of containerised and bulk cargo from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to Nepal’s customs yard near Biratnagar. The Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link, built with Indian grant assistance, was inaugurated by the prime ministers of both countries in June 2023.

Both ministers also reviewed ongoing initiatives to improve cross-border trade infrastructure, including Integrated Check Posts and other connectivity projects. India remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, and the new measures are expected to further deepen economic ties.