During a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, India, Mr. Piyush Goyal, India’s Commerce Minister, and Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, Nepal's Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, finalized the amendment to the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit between their two nations. This agreement expands rail-based freight movement between Jogbani, India and Biratnagar, Nepal, by broadening the definition of cargo to include both containerized and bulk shipments. The two countries exchanged Letters of Exchange in this regard. 

The liberalization extends to three key transit corridors: Kolkata–Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli), significantly enhancing multimodal trade connectivity between both nations and facilitating Nepal's access to third-country markets. The Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link, which was constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India and jointly inaugurated by both countries on 1 June 2023, will now enable direct rail connectivity to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station in Morang district, streamlining freight transport from major Indian ports to Nepal's industrial hub.

Related links

India, Nepal to boost rail trade connectivity with new Jogbani–Biratnagar freight link 

India, Nepal Sign Agreement For Rail Connectivity For Bulk Cargo Transport 

Nepal and India exchange letter to boost rail trade connectivity