Kurtha-Jayanagar train service test successful

The train from Kurtha in Dhanusha to Jayanagar in India has been successfully tested today.

Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi are preparing to jointly inaugurate the train service from Jayanagar of India to Kurtha of Dhanusha. Two sets of trains purchased from the Indian Railway Company Corporation on September 18, 2020 have been parked at Inaruwa in Janakandani village of Dhanusha. Nepal Railway Company Limited has stated that the parked train was tested today.

A team including General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Niranjan Jha and Chief District Officer of Dhanusha Bandhu Prasad Banstola tested the train on the 39 km long railway from Jayanagar in India to Kurtha in Dhanusha.

After the successful test of the train, General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Jha briefed the media persons and said that preparations are being made for the operation of the train service soon. "At present, we are preparing to run the train by appointing 60 employees on the basis of minimum requirements," said General Manager Jha. Besides, 14 out of 24 employees have already come from the Indian side to operate the train, he said.

General Manager Jha informed that preparations are being made to run the train once a day for the time being after the inauguration. Stating that the parts in the railway track are being stolen and there are still shops on the railway tracks, it may be difficult to operate the train, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a team led by Dr Manoj Singh, Executive Director of Indian Railway Company Corporation (Konkan) had inspected the physical infrastructure constructed for the operation of Kurtha-Jayanagar railway service.

Locals have been protesting against the purchase of two sets of trains from the Indian Railway Company Corporation for Rs 846.5 million. Citizens who have been waiting for years to get on the only long-awaited train in the country are now waiting for the train to run.