Janakpur July 16 : Jogi Sah, 55, of Loharpatti Municipality-4 in Mahottari had never imaged that the rail service in his area would resume during his lifetime.

But his happiness has no bounds after the resumption of the rail service in his area after 21 years. “I feel it is like a dream today. I can’t express my happiness today as I reached Janakpur from Bhangaha in the rail,” emotional Sah shared. The locals in the area used to travel up to Jayanagar in the same train until 21 years ago but the rail service was disrupted after the Bigihi Bridge collapsed and the railway line was wrecked.

“We suffered a lot since then. It took hours to reach Janakpur. Now, the distance can be travelled in just 30 minutes. So, the people here are excited much,” Sah shared his happiness. Likewise, other people in the community have shared their excitement after the resumption of the rail service there.

Thousands of locals arrived here today to see the rail there and cheered up as Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala hoisted the national flag to bid farewell to the train to Janakpur city. Earlier this, addressing inception programme, Minister Jwala said that the distance of the railway will be 52.3 km which is 17.3 km more than the past one. “The train has been operated in this track made possible with grant assistance of Rs 12 billion from India. For this, I extend gratitude to Indian government and the people there,” Minister Jwala said, reminding the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent visit to India where the railway service from Kurtha to Bijalpura was inaugurated jointly.

Even the cargo service would be operated soon, according to him. Minister Jwala termed it a ‘breakthrough’, saying that broad gauge service has begun now, replacing the narrow gauge. Similarly, General Manager of Nepal Railway Company, Niranjan Jha, informed that the railway service was extended in the second phase from to Kurtha to Bijalpura.

Once the dispute on land acquisition and compensation is resolved on time, third phase of railway extension would begin to link the service to Bardibas, he added. Similarly, DCM at Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Prashanna Shreevastav, also reminded that the railway service was extended as per agreement made during Nepali PM’s visit to India.

It would help further bolster Nepal-India relations. The rail service was operative from Janakpurdham of Dhanusha to Kurtha, India for 15 months. Now, with the present extension of the service, people enjoy rail service three times a day, according to General Manager Jha.