India and Nepal started the first direct commercial freight train service to Biratnagar on 20 July 2026, running from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard under the Nepal‑India transit framework.
Route and operations
- Origin–Destination: Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) → Biratnagar Customs Yard, Morang district, Nepal.
- Border points: Indian customs at Jogbani; Nepal customs at Biratnagar.
- Consignment: Maiden train carried 40 40‑ft containers of bulk canola; planned capacity up to 45 containers per train.
- Transit time: Approximately 24 hours for the Kolkata–Biratnagar rail run.
Legal and customs framework
- Transit treaty: Amendments to the Nepal‑India Transit Treaty permit direct rail movement of containerised and bulk cargo to Biratnagar.
- Regulatory instruments: CBIC Notification No. 73/2025‑Customs (4 Nov 2025); Kolkata Customs Public Notice No. 12/2026 (26 Feb 2026).
- Customs role: Biratnagar is the second Nepalese customs point for third‑country rail transit after Birgunj.
Logistics and technology
- Cargo monitoring: Each container fitted with an Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) for real‑time tracking.
- Cost metric: Route projected to reduce logistics costs by about 20–30% for Nepali industries.
- Operator: Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), a central public sector enterprise under Indian Railways, handled operations.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Biratnagar location: Morang district in south‑eastern Nepal, near the India–Nepal border.
- Jogbani–Biratnagar link: Broad‑gauge cross‑border rail link inaugurated on 1 June 2023.
- Kolkata Port: Also referred to as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust.