Nepal's sole railway service crippled by leadership vacuum, financial woes
Summary
Nepal's only railway service is operating under a leadership vacuum with financial losses due to management issues and high dependency on foreign workers. The 52 km route between Jaynagar and Bhangaha runs daily but struggles with debt and lacks key infrastructure and skilled domestic manpower.
Key Points
- Nepal Railway has been without a general manager for seven months, leading to operational challenges.
- The railway operates a 52-kilometer passenger service between Jaynagar, India, and Bhangaha, Nepal, but is financially running at a loss with debts exceeding 790 million rupees.
- Dependence on Indian technical staff inflates operating costs, while the railway’s own manpower largely lacks technical expertise.
- There are significant infrastructure deficits at the railway stations, lack of fueling stations, and no permanent workshop for maintenance, further affecting services.
