Two cross-border rail projects moved in early November. China has said its feasibility study for the proposed 78-kilometre Kerung-Kathmandu railway is complete, with about 96 percent of the route in tunnels and on bridges, but the report has not yet been formally handed to the Nepali government. Reports differ on the cost: Nepal Khabar gave a preliminary estimate of Rs 257 billion, while BBC News Nepali quoted a Department of Railways official at about 20 billion Chinese yuan, roughly Rs 400 billion. Officials of the National Planning Commission and the Department of Railways say the next decisions, including on investment, rest with political leadership, and the Chinese side is reported to see a link onward to India as making the line more useful.
Separately, an Indian special train made a dry run to Janakpurdham on November 5 for a proposed Janakpur-Ayodhya service. Paribesh Parajuli, managing director of the Nepal Railway Company, said the aim is to inaugurate it during Prime Minister Balendra Shah's visit to India, but the start is not final and the operating arrangements are still under discussion.
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China says its feasibility study for a Kerung-Kathmandu railway is complete, though the report has not been formally handed to Nepal. An Indian special train made a test run to Janakpurdham on November 5.
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