First Direct Freight Train Reaches Nepal Customs Yard

The first direct commercial freight train from Kolkata Port reached the Nepal Customs Yard in Biratnagar, eastern Nepal, on 20 July 2026. The train carried 40 forty-foot containers of canola grain and was operated by the Container Corporation of India Limited.

India-Nepal Rail Transit Framework

The movement took place under the amended India-Nepal rail transit framework. The framework permits direct rail movement of containerised and bulk cargo to Biratnagar through the Jogbani-Biratnagar broad-gauge cross-border rail link.

Protocol and Letter of Exchange

The direct rail corridor follows a Letter of Exchange signed on 13 November 2025. The Letter of Exchange amended the Protocol to the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit, which governs transit arrangements between the two countries.

Customs Points and Rail Connectivity

Before this movement, Birgunj was the only customs point in Nepal equipped to receive third-country rail cargo from Indian ports. The Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link was jointly inaugurated on 1 June 2023 with grant assistance from the Government of India.

Important Facts for Exams

• Container Corporation of India Limited is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways.
• Kolkata Port is also known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
• Biratnagar is a major industrial city in eastern Nepal and lies near the India-Nepal border.
• Canola grain is an oilseed commodity used in edible oil production and animal feed.

Logistics and Transit Facts

The new rail corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs by 20-30% for Nepali industries. Nepal uses rail transit routes through India for access to seaports under bilateral transit arrangements.