East-West Railway
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| East-West Railway Line | |
|---|---|
 An Engine of Nepal Railway | |
| Overview | |
| Other name | Mechi-Mahakali Railway |
| Native name | पुर्व-पश्चिम रेल्वे |
| Status | Under-study |
| Owner | Office Of The Investment Board The Railway Department, Ministry Of Physical Infrastructure and Transport |
| Locale | Terai from East to West |
| Termini |
|
| Website | www |
| Service | |
| Type | Government sector |
| Operator(s) | Ajay Kumar Mull (Director General)[1] |
| History | |
| Commenced | 2008[2] |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 945.44 km (587 mi) |
| Track length | 1,376 km (855 mi) to 4,000 km (2,485 mi) |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge |
| Route availability | Not available |
| Conduction system | Electrified |
The East-West Railway Line (Nepali: पुर्व-पश्चिम रेल्वे) or the Mechi-Mahakali Railway is an upcoming Trans-Asian Railway project in Nepal.[3] The railway will be the longest in Nepal, stretching 945.244 km (587 mi) expanding from the Eastern Indo-Nepal border of Kakarbhitta to the Western Indo-Nepal border of Kanchanpur.[4] Subsidiary lines will be added expanding the total project to 1,376 km (855 mi).[2]
The government[5] developed the concept of the East-West Railway in 2007, forming the Department of Railways in 2011. The project started in 2008, but due to various economic, environmental and coordination challenges it was delayed until March 2020.
Features
The network is expected to grow to 4,000 km within 20 years. This railway line is important for Nepal because it has long been dependent on India for its connection with the world through the Port of Kolkata and Vizag Port.[6]
| Total bridges: 334 |
| Longest Bridge: 1171 m over Koshi River |
| Total tunnels: 10 (26.7 km) |
| Longest Tunnel: 17.742 km[3] |
Controversies
Lack of coordination of inter-governmental bodies and conflicts between the locals and the construction company for land acquisition and deforestation stimulated controversy. The proposed route passes through Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage site. The route was widely criticized and the proposal was rejected by UNESCO. It also was criticized for threatening rare wildlife.[2][7]