GS 3: Economics – Infrastructure Railways

Why in news?

• India and Nepal have inked a deal on procurement of two diesel operated trains.
• The contract agreement was signed between India’s Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd and Nepal’s Department of Railways to supply two 1600 HP Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train sets.

Highlights:

• It was signed in Kathmandu in the presence of Manjeev Puri, Indian Ambassador to Nepal and Madhusudan Adhikari, Nepal’s Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
• According to agreement, Nepal will procure two diesel-operated trains, which will arrive in Nepal within five months. The trains will be manufactured by Integrated Coach Factory (owned and operated by Indian Railways) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Each train set will comprise of three trailer cars with one air conditioned, one driving power car and one driving trailer car with standard accessories.
• These trains will be used to operationalise the 34 km long railway corridor stretch which links Jayanagar in Bihar, India and Kurtha in Dhanusa district, Nepal.
• The 34 kms Jayanagar-Kurtha Railway Link was built by IRCON (Ircon International Limited, a construction and engineering PSU in transport infrastructure) with a financial grant from Indian Government under the India-Nepal Development Partnership programme.