India and Nepal have revised their Treaty of Transit to make cross-border freight movement smoother, especially for rail cargo between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal. The update now covers bulk cargo as well, widening what can be transported through this route.
Ministers formalise the amendments
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Nepal’s Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Anil Kumar Sinha in New Delhi on November 13, 2025. Both sides exchanged the letters that officially amend the protocol attached to the treaty.
What the new changes enable
The government said the signing will allow seamless movement of rail-based freight along the Jogbani–Biratnagar corridor under a broader, more flexible definition of cargo.
The revision also benefits several major transit corridors. These include:
• Kolkata to Jogbani
• Kolkata to Nautanwa (Sunauli)
• Visakhapatnam to Nautanwa (Sunauli)
Together, these upgrades strengthen multimodal links and support Nepal’s trade with India and with third countries.
Stronger connectivity efforts underway
The two ministers also noted the progress on ongoing projects aimed at improving cross-border connectivity and trade infrastructure.
India’s key role in Nepal’s economy
India continues to be Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for a major share of its external trade. The updated transit measures are expected to deepen economic ties and make commercial movement more efficient on both sides.
