Overview
- A cargo train from Kolkata Port reached the Budhanagar Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar carrying 40 containers of imported mustard, officials said Monday.
- The route was activated through coordinated work by the Nepali Consulate General in Kolkata, Kolkata Customs and Ports, and the Container Corporation of India Limited, and containers were fitted with electronic tracking for secure movement.
- Until now Birgunj was the only Nepal–India border point handling third‑country rail imports, and the new service shifts some container flows to Biratnagar to create a second entry point for eastern Nepal.
- Local industry leaders welcomed the link, with Morang Industry Association president Nandu Rathi saying rail cargo can now reach Biratnagar from Kolkata Port within 24 hours, which he said will cut transport time and costs for eastern manufacturers and importers.
- Officials described the service as operational but did not specify routine frequency, capacity targets, or trade‑volume projections, so measurable economic effects and wider adoption will depend on how the route is scheduled and scaled.