Kathmandu: After Indian officials expressed security concerns, Nepal will not allow persons from other countries to travel to India by rail via the Kurtha-Jayanagar line, according to a senior official of the Department of Railways. "This was accepted while establishing the Standard Operating Procedure (SPA) for cross-border railway operation," said Deepak Kumar Bhattarai, director-general of the department, according to reports. The SPA is a document that lays forth the procedures that must be followed when operating a railway service.

One of the reasons for the SPA's protracted delay, according to Bhattarai, was India's security concerns. With a porous border between Nepal and India, India has long been wary of criminals and terrorists using the porous border to attack India. Over the previous few years, both sides have become victims of cross-border crime.

Nepal will also alert India about the persons on board, according to Bhattarai, in order to secure security clearance at the crossing point. "We will have to give details of the guests travelling to India based on the ticket issued," he said.

Despite the fact that the SPA has been finalised, it is unclear when the railway service will return because the Nepal government has failed to pass a railway law and the Nepal Railway Company has yet to hire personnel to operate the service.

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