Indian Railways has achieved a significant milestone in regional connectivity with the successful operation of India’s first direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard, Nepal. The historic service marks a major step forward in strengthening cross-border trade and logistics between India and Nepal.
The freight train, consisting of 40 wagons carrying a consignment of canola, completed its journey under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, enabling seamless end-to-end rail transportation without transshipment at the border.
The new direct rail freight service allows containerized cargo to move directly from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without unloading and reloading goods at the India-Nepal border.
This streamlined logistics model is expected to:
- Reduce transit time.
- Lower logistics costs.
- Minimize cargo handling.
- Improve supply chain efficiency.
- Enhance trade competitiveness.
The initiative is seen as a major advancement in facilitating smoother trade between the two neighboring countries.
The milestone has been made possible through the implementation of the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, which enables uninterrupted rail movement of freight across the border.
Following the signing of the revised Letter of Exchange (LoE) in November 2025, commercial freight operations to Biratnagar have now become operational, paving the way for greater bilateral economic cooperation.
The direct freight service builds upon the broad-gauge railway link between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), which was inaugurated in June 2023.
The railway corridor has now evolved from basic connectivity into a commercially operational international freight route, expanding opportunities for importers, exporters, and logistics companies.
The direct rail service is expected to benefit multiple stakeholders by offering:
- Faster cargo movement.
- Lower transportation expenses.
- Reduced cargo handling and damage risks.
- More reliable delivery schedules.
- Environmentally sustainable transportation.
Industries engaged in cross-border trade are expected to gain from improved logistics efficiency and reduced operational costs.
The initiative aligns with Indian Railways’ broader efforts to strengthen international freight connectivity while supporting the Government of India’s vision of improving the Ease of Doing Business through modern transportation infrastructure.
The project is expected to:
- Strengthen India-Nepal trade relations.
- Encourage higher freight movement by rail.
- Promote greener transportation.
- Improve regional supply chain integration.
- Support long-term economic cooperation.
Compared to road transport, rail freight offers several environmental and operational advantages, including:
- Lower carbon emissions.
- Higher cargo carrying capacity.
- Reduced highway congestion.
- Better fuel efficiency.
- More dependable long-distance transportation.
The new freight corridor supports both economic development and sustainable logistics.
