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India and Nepal Amend Transit Protocol to Launch Direct Jogbani–Biratnagar Rail Freight

The move strengthens Nepal’s access to Indian seaports for third-country trade.

Overview

  • New Delhi and Kathmandu exchanged a Letter of Exchange that formally amends the IndiaNepal Treaty of Transit protocol.
  • The amendment enables rail movement of containerised and expanded-definition bulk cargo on the Jogbani–Biratnagar link to the Nepal Customs Yard in Morang from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.
  • Liberalisation extends to the Kolkata–Jogbani, KolkataNautanwa (Sunauli) and VisakhapatnamNautanwa (Sunauli) corridors to support multimodal connectivity.
  • The Jogbani–Biratnagar rail line was built with Indian grant assistance and was jointly inaugurated by the two prime ministers on June 1, 2023.
  • The ministers highlighted continued trade facilitation measures, including Integrated Check Posts, with India remaining Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner.