Railway resumption feasibility study done at Gaurifanta

By Our Correspondent,Dhangadhi, Feb. 17: Authorities and technical experts have undertaken necessary study to resume the railway services to Gaurifanta, a border point with India in Dhangadhi, Kailali.

The railway services have been suspended along the route for 30 years. Indian medias reported that Uttar Pradesh’s Railway Manager (RM) Aditya Kumar inspected the Gaurifanta route recently. 

They also reported that a team of technical experts will be conducting a detail study over the route. 

Indian media Live Hindustan reported that if the study went well, Gaurifanta would help connect Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Kanpur directly by railway.

Many Nepalis and Indians use the border point in Gaurifanta to enter and exit Nepal. If the railway route was opened, it would benefit hundreds of travellers.

Earlier, Chandra Vir Raman, general manager of North Eastern Railway of India, had inspected Mailani Junction Railway Station. 

He had then instructed RM Kumar to inspect the route to Gaurifanta.

Since April 4, 1914, railway route was opened from Dudhuwa to Gaurifanta which is 14-mile long. 

However, since 1993, Indian authorities stopped the railway services to Gaurfianta.

According to Indian media, the reason behind the suspension was economic loss along the route.

While the railway station still stands strong, it has been used by Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). 

In the 90s, Dudhuwa was said to be one of the major railway junctions of India. The railway route to Dudhuwa was constructed by the East India Company to transport resources from the forests in the region.

However, after the establishment of Dudhuwa Tiger Reserve, the exploitation of resources came to a halt and the train route became a loss business. It was what led to the suspension of Dudhuwa-Gaurifanta railway service.

Since then, people have been using roadways to travel to and through Gaurifanta.

Both Indian and Nepali businessmen have been demanding for the operation of railway service to Gaurifanta for long as it would improve and upgrade commercial and economic sector on both side of the border.