Kathmandu, Sept. 13: A good three years have passed since the preliminary study of the Kathmandu-Raxaul railway construction project was carried out.

However, the process for the construction of this project has not moved forward.

The railway connects the federal capital with Raxaul of Bihar State in India.

Although the preliminary study of this project has been done, it could not go for the construction with additional study as the two countries are yet to sign an agreement to that effect.

Deepak Bhattarai, the director-general of the Department of Railways, says the process would be forwarded for the construction of the railway project only after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is signed by the Government of Nepal and the Government of India.

“It (the MoU) is ready for signing between the two countries at an appropriate time,” he says.

Director-General Bhattarai added that the Indian side had completed the preliminary engineering and traffic survey in 2018. As he says, although the first phase of work regarding the project has been done, more important works remained.

“The final location survey would be done through the detailed study to be done now. But first, the two countries should sign MoU for this,” he elaborates.

The department says it is not immediately in a position to carry ahead works as the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is without the minister for nearly two months.