Nepal Railway Update: Preparations for Regular Janakpur-Jayanagar Train Operation
Preparations have been started for regular train operations on Jayanagar Railway. With the arrival of the train from India last month, preparations are being made for the regular operation of manpower management, lawmaking, necessary infrastructure, and so on.
Although the train could not be operated on immediately due to the Covid-19 infection. The Nepal Railway Company has stated that it is preparing for the operation by managing the manpower as soon as the situation improves.
Guru Bhattarai, general manager of the company, said that the inter-country train could not be operated at present as the government had stopped the movement at the border to control the transition. He said that for the time being, trains could be operated only within the country but manpower was needed for that. He informed that discussions will be held to operate a train in the area on the occasion of the upcoming Poush's Ram Navami festival.
General Manager Bhattarai said that a permanent appointment has been made now after the Public Service Commission said that there would be problems in appointing a large number of contract employees if the Nepal Railway Company has started the contract appointment process for the operation of the railway. He informed that the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration will send staff on contract for the time being as it may take a few months to recruit from the public service process.
It is said that about 150 employees from technical, administration, legal, and other groups are needed for the operation of the train. The skilled manpower to run the train will be Indians. It is understood that the company has built the train to bring 26 Indian technical staff to operate the train and talks are underway with the local company Konkan Company.
The company had been preparing to send the required manpower since the train was sent. As there is no skilled manpower to run the train in Nepal, experienced employees who have worked in the railways before are being brought to India for a few years. Modern railway operations require manpower with knowledge of technology.
At present, there is a lack of a law on railways in Nepal. As the Railway Act 2020 is outdated, a new bill is being introduced in the parliament. After the operation of the train, the people and traders of the area are expected to be comfortable in transportation. Railways will still facilitate transportation as vehicles are still in operation. The government has planned to connect the railway to Bardibas as the east-west railway will also reach Bardibas.
Two sets of demo trains arrived on Ashoj 2 to operate the railway, which was constructed with the financial and technical assistance of the Government of India. According to the Department of Railways, the train can carry 1,200 to 1,300 passengers sitting and standing. As it is a passenger train, only passenger bags and general luggage can be kept.
During the Rana period in Nepal, there was a railway service from Raxaul in India in 1984 BS to Amalekhgunj in Nepal and from Jayanagar to Janakpur in 1994 BS. The long-delayed railway service has moved ahead with the current government's national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis'. The construction of the railway from Kurtha to Jayanagar was completed last year.
The train will run for a total length of 35 km. Construction of an additional 17 km railway from Kurtha to Bijulpura has reached the final stage. According to the department, the train will be operated 52 km from Bijalpura soon.
