Transport in Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan country where transportation is difficult due to mountainous terrain.

Railways

total: 59 km; between Janakpur and Jainagar, close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 59 km of 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge

• 1998 : 2 ZDM-5 diesel locomotives donated by Indian Railway to Nepal Railways.
• 2004 : Kolkata - Raxaul - Sirsiya Broad Gauge started operations as an Inland Port.
• 2007 : The Pipavav Rail Corporation submitted a proposal for constructing the entire 174 km route from Birgunj to Kathmandu, no progress made so far.
• 2008 : Three other proposals for rail connectivity to Nepal were considered and had preliminary engineering surveys done: New Jalpaiguri (India) to Kakrabitta (Nepal) via Panitanki (46.3 km); Nepalganj Road (India) to Nepalganj (Nepal) (12.1 km); and Nautanwa (India) to Bhairahawa (Nepal) (15.3 km)
• 2010 : Line proposed to Nepal from India.
• 2011 : Metro trains proposed in Kathmandu valley, feasibility studies was by Delhi Metro Corporation carried out as declared in the Budget session.

Railway links with adjacent countries

• India - yes - 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge preferred, 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) gauge obsolete. There is only a railway in the southern part of Nepal from India to Nepal border, operated by Indian Railway and Nepal Railways, bordering India. The capital, Kathmandu, has no railway connection.

Highways

Highways;

• total: 13,223 km
• paved: 4,073 km
• unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbours

There are three dry ports: Birgunj, Biratnagar and at Bhairahawa.

Airports

As of 2002, there were 45 airports in the country. The country has only one international airport, which is Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Tribhuvan serves as the main aviation hub of the country.

Airports - with paved runways

• total: 9
• over 3,047 m: 1
• 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
• 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

• total: 36
• 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
• 914 to 1,523 m: 7
• under 914 m: 28 (2002)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".

Highways and roads in Nepal
Highways	Mechi Highway Araniko Highway (AH42) B.P. Koirala Highway Karnali Highway Mahendra Highway (AH2) Prithvi Highway Tribhuvan Highway (AH42) Kathmandu Terai Expressway (Under Construction) Kanti Highway