<p data-path-to-node="2" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-290" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">KOLKATA / BIRATNAGAR —</b><span class="citation-484 citation-end-484" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> In a major boost to South Asian regional connectivity and cross-border trade, the first-ever direct EXIM container rail cargo service from Kolkata Port in India to Biratnagar in eastern Nepal has officially commenced operations.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-483 citation-end-483" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The inaugural freight train was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, by Nepal’s Consul General Jhakka Prasad Acharya, alongside senior executives from Kolkata Customs, Kolkata Port, Indian Railways, and the Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR).<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h4 data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Strategic Expansion of Nepal’s Trade Corridors</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-291" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-482 citation-end-482" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Until this milestone, Birgunj was Nepal's sole rail-linked customs point for containerized third-country imports arriving via Indian seaports.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-481 citation-end-481" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The operationalization of the Biratnagar rail route establishes the eastern trade gateway as Nepal's second direct rail-connected customs node, significantly expanding the inland logistics options under the bilateral Nepal–India Transit Treaty.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-292" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-480 citation-end-480" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The service routes through the Jogbani Integrated Customs Yard on the India–Nepal border before reaching the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Budhanagar in Biratnagar.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-479 citation-end-479" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The inaugural CONCOR freight train carried 40 forty-foot containers operated by Maersk Line, loaded with bulk farmer-dressed canola grain imported from Fremantle, Australia, for Swastik Oil Industries in Nepal.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></b></sources-carousel-inline></p><h4 data-path-to-node="6" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Technical and Regulatory Framework</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-293" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-478 citation-end-478" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The rollout follows strategic regulatory adjustments by India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and procedural agreements between Indian and Nepali customs authorities:<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="10" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="8" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-294" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS):</b><span class="citation-477 citation-end-477" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Every container on the route is fitted with satellite-enabled ECTS locks, providing end-to-end real-time tracking, automated manifest validation, and seamless customs transit security.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="11" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-295" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Train Capacity &amp; Speed:</b><span class="citation-476 citation-end-476" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Each rake is engineered to haul up to 45 forty-foot containers per voyage.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="12" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-475 citation-end-475" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The direct rail transit from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar is expected to complete within approximately 24 hours, dramatically compressing lead times compared to traditional road trucking.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="13" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,2,0" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-296" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Multi-Port Enablement:</b><span class="citation-474 citation-end-474" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> The expanded framework under the transit protocol also paves the way for direct rail freight connections to Biratnagar from Haldia Port and Visakhapatnam Port.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="14" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><h4 data-path-to-node="9" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Macroeconomic &amp; Supply Chain Impact</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="10" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-297" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-473 citation-end-473" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Industrial bodies across eastern Nepal, including the Morang Industry Association, strongly welcomed the rail service, noting that direct rail connectivity will provide substantial relief to regional importers and manufacturers.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="15" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1165537504="" _nghost-ng-c642716104="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="11" id="p-rc_72db86a99eea6d17-298" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-472" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Trade experts estimate that substituting road haulage with direct rail transport will lower logistics overheads for Nepal-bound cargo by </span><b data-path-to-node="11" data-index-in-node="137" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">15% to 20%</b><span class="citation-472 citation-end-472" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="16" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-471 citation-end-471" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The cost efficiencies stem from reduced port demurrage penalties, lower container detention fees, and the elimination of multi-stage road transfer bottlenecks.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="17" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-470 citation-end-470" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The service opens a new operational chapter in subcontinental freight integration, reinforcing Kolkata Port’s position as the primary maritime gateway for Nepal's international commerce.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2333486709="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2333486709="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="18" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1165537504="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p>