Nepal's Only Railway Faces Financial Crisis Amid Management Hurdles
Summary
Nepal's only railway service, running from Jaynagar, India to Bijalpura in Mahottari, faces a severe financial crisis due to operational losses, management issues, and reliance on costly Indian technical staff.
Key Points
- Nepal's only railway operates a 52-kilometer broad-gauge line from Jaynagar, India to Bijalpura, Mahottari, serving as vital local transportation.
- The Nepal Railway Company Limited has incurred losses totaling approximately 481.58 million rupees over five fiscal years, with expenses far exceeding revenues.
- High operational costs stem largely from hiring technical staff from India, with salary payments of about 11.2 million Nepali rupees monthly to the Indian Konkan company.
- Proposals to generate revenue include leasing commercial land in Raxaul and creating a railway museum, while expanding freight services is urged to achieve long-term profitability.
