Kathmandu 20 November : .Nepal has decided not to allow third-country travelers to India via its Kurtha Jayanagar railway after Indian officials raised security concerns.
This was according to a top official of the Department of Railways. Deepak Kumar Bhattarai is the director general of the department.
The Kathmandu Post reports that this was done while finalizing the Standard Operating Procedures (SPA) to cross-border railroad operation.
The SPA describes the operating procedures for the railway service.
Last month, India and Nepal signed the SPA at New Delhi.
Bhattarai claims that India’s security concerns were one reason why the SPA took so long.India and Nepal share a porous border.India was always suspicious of the potential for terrorists or criminals to use the border to harm India.
Over the past several years, both sides have been victims to cross-border crime.
Bhattarai said that Nepal would also inform India about passengers aboard to facilitate security clearance at border points.
He said that details about the Indian passengers will be sent to India based on their ticket.
Despite the SPA being finalised it’s not known when railway service will resume.
The Nepal Railway Company has yet to hire personnel and the Nepal Government is yet to pass a law on railway services.
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