The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has protested the reported inauguration of Janakpur-Jayanagar train service by Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath who wants reinstatement of monarchy in Nepal.
NC Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi told Setopati that inauguration of the train service by Yogi Adityanath who frequently speaks for reinstatement of monarchy and Hindu state in Nepal does not send a good message.
“Nepali and Indian PMs can inaugurate it. If the PMs do not have time we can invite union railway minister or other union ministers from India,” Nidhi suggested. He added that inauguration should not be done at the hands of Adtyanath also because he does not represent the union government of India.
CM Adityanath is coming to Janakpur on December 12 as part of the wedding procession of lord Ram for the festival of Vivaha Panchami to mark the wedding of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita.
Nidhi claimed that inviting Adityanath, who has been demanding reinstatement of monarchy in Nepal, would show that the CPN government is not in favor of republicanism. “There are news reports that Adityanath is coming to Nepal. We don’t know if Nepal government has invited him or not,” he stated. “If the government has invited him, it shows that the government is not committed toward republicanism and is creating environment against it.”
The Department of Railways, meanwhile, has said there is no program of Adityanath inaugurating the train service. “We have heard the provincial minister or someone else has said that. But we don’ know about him inaugurating the train service. He won’t inaugurate it,” Director General at the department Balaram Mishra told Setopati.
Nepal is preparing to operate train service from Jayanagar of India till Kurtha via Janakpur by the start f 2019.
A train arrived in Janakpur from Jayanagar in the third week of October carrying track ballast (stones) to prepare the trackbed to lay the railway track on
Mishra said a set of trains will be rented at first, and more will be added later. He revealed that Nepal has already written to the Indian government to rent trains but has yet to receive response to the letter sent after Tihar.
"We can also buy trains but we don't have skilled human resources for that now. People to operate the trains will come from the company," Mishra revealed. "We will buy trains once our human resources are ready."
The only railway of Nepal, the 51-kilometer Janakpur-Jayanagar railway that started 81 years ago, is not in operation for the past five years. Narrow-gauge trains used to operate on this route earlier but broad-gauge tracks have been laid there now. Works are on to extend this railway till Bardibas of Mahottari.
Trains will be operated in the five border points also including Biratnagar, Kakarbhitta, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj with Indian assistance as per the understanding between Nepal and India in 2010 for cross-border railways.
