The first export cargo container train containing sponge iron will be placed at Indian Custom Yard Railway station of Indian Custom Yard (ICY) – Nepal Custom Yard section under Katihar division of N. F. Railway today. The consignment was loaded from a private siding of M/S TATA Sponge Iron Ltd. located at Murga Mahadev Road under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway. This consignment will be transported to M/S Pashupati Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd., Birat Nagar (Nepal) by Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR). It will move from Indian Custom Yard Railway station to Nepal thorough trucks by clearing the custom’s Integrated Check Post at Jogbani.
It may be noted here that, earlier on 01st June, 2023, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and his Nepali counterpart His Excellency Shri Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ together flagged off an Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha in Bihar to Nepal Custom Yard. This was a part of the Jogbani – Biratnagar international cross – border rail link project which provides rail access to the landlocked country of Nepal.
This connectivity will also allow Nepal to get direct access to sea ports of India through railways as a result of which the logistic cost will come down to a great extent for the country. Previously, transportation of materials to Nepal was done mainly through roadways. Railway connectivity will ensure cheaper transportation of various types of material with Nepal.
Indian Railways is committed to enhance cross border connectivity for overall development of the region.