August 22: The field survey of Raxaul-Kathmandu railway is likely to be completed soon. By next December, the Konkan Railway team of India will submit the final report of the project along with the DPR and other test reports to the Government of India.

The study of this railway is being done with the grant of the Government of India. Indian newspaper Prabhat Khabar has published the news that the construction of this railway is likely to start within the year 2023 after completion of all pre-construction studies.

Studies have shown that a train can run at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour on this route. According to the survey team, the Raxaul-Kathmandu Railway will be 140 km long. It is mentioned in the news that the last 40 km section will be electrified with double track. Similarly, it has been reported that a single line broad gauge from Raxaul extending up to 99 kilometers will be electrified. The last 40 kilometers ie the section towards Kathmandu will be built on a double track due to the geographical location. In order to avoid problems in the future, it is being tried to make the section on a double track. As the remaining 99 km will be in the Terai section, it will be easy to make the track.

The team of Konkan Railway is currently undertaking the final survey from Raxaul to Kathmandu. Along with the field survey, the team is also conducting soil tests at the places where bridges and tunnels are to be built. It is mentioned in the news published by Prabhat Khabar that the Government of Nepal, the Indian Consulate and locals are assisting the survey team.

According to the survey team, 12 stations will be built on this railway from Raxaul to Kathmandu. Railway stations will be built in Raxaul, Birgunj, Belwa, Manharwa, Saphi Bazar, Nijgadh, Makwanpur, Diyal, Shikharpur, Sahitakhel, Sisneri and Kathmandu.

According to the preliminary reports, a total of 33 tunnels will have to be built along the railway line. The survey team has informed that the longest tunnel will be of 8 kilometers. In addition, 305 small bridges will have to be built between Raxaul and Kathmandu, including an 800-meter long cable bridge. The longest bridge of the railway will be 1,500 meters. Forty seven kilometers away from Raxaul, the railway will be built in forest and hill areas.

In the year 2077, the Government of Nepal had requested the Indian government to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of this railway, but the survey was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

From the current survey, it will be known what kind of train can be run, and at which point the main structures like tunnels, bridges and stations should be built.

In August 2075, an agreement was reached between the governments of Nepal and India to conduct the feasibility study of this railway. Similarly, an agreement was signed with China in October 2076 to study the feasibility of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway.