KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Indian Railways has approved a new weekly train service connecting Janakpur Dham in Nepal with Ayodhya in India. The service is expected to be inaugurated during Prime Minister Balendra Shah's upcoming visit to India.
According to a press release issued by India's Ministry of Railways on Saturday, the 604-km service will connect Janakpur Dham with Ayodhya Cantt, passing through key towns in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
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The train will make commercial stops at Jaynagar, Madhubani, Shisho, Sitamarhi, Raxaul, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Mankapur and Ayodhya Dham, in addition to the terminal stations.
The service will operate once a week, departing Janakpur Dham on Saturdays and Ayodhya Cantt on Mondays.
The Indian government said the service would facilitate religious tourism between Janakpur and Ayodhya, two destinations associated with the Ramayana tradition, while also improving cross-border mobility for tourism, business, education and family visits.
The initiative is also expected to boost tourism and economic activity along the route and further strengthen people-to-people ties between Nepal and India.
