Cross-border connectivity projects are central to India's Neighbourhood First policy. Examine with reference to India–Nepal rail links.

India's Neighbourhood First policy treats physical connectivity as the proof of its goodwill towards neighbours. Nepal is landlocked and shares an open border with India, so rail links are the clearest test of this policy there. They run from the Jaynagar–Kurtha line to the newly approved Janakpur Dham–Ayodhya weekly train [1].

Why connectivity is central to Neighbourhood First

• Delivery over declarations: India pays for these lines, so agreements become real assets. The whole Jaynagar–Bijalpura–Bardibas project is funded by an Indian grant [2].
• Economic integration: rail lowers transport costs for a landlocked partner. The two Prime Ministers presented the Jaynagar–Kurtha line as part of their shared priority on trade and cross-border connectivity [4].
• People-to-people ties: the Janakpur–Ayodhya train serves pilgrims, traders and border communities of Bihar and Nepal [1].
• Soft power: the train links the birthplaces of Sita and Ram. This puts into practice the Ramayana Circuit that was announced at Janakpur in 2018 [5][1].
• Strategic depth: in 2018 the two sides agreed on an electrified Raxaul–Kathmandu line with Indian financing. It would tie Nepal's capital into the Indian rail network [6].

India–Nepal rail links: track record

• Jaynagar–Kurtha (2022): the first broad-gauge passenger rail service between the two countries. It was flagged off during PM Deuba's visit [3].
• Janakpur Dham–Ayodhya (2026): a scheduled weekly service of about 604 km. It runs Saturday from Janakpur and Monday from Ayodhya Cantt. [1]. Anyone can buy a ticket, unlike costly package tours.

Gaps that limit impact

• Land and execution delays: the extension to Bardibas is waiting for Nepal to hand over land [2].
• Flagship still pending: Raxaul–Kathmandu was agreed in 2018 [6] but is still largely at the planning stage.
• Low capacity: one train a week limits everyday use [1].
• Uneven gains: the named stoppages (Sitamarhi, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya Dham) are all in India [1]. Tourist spending may therefore lean towards India, which could hurt how Nepal sees the project.

Way forward

• Base the number of trips on published seat-occupancy data.
• Set up a joint, time-bound mechanism for land handover. Turn the Raxaul–Kathmandu survey into a construction and cost-sharing plan.
• Offer short tour packages that bring Indian visitors to stay in Janakpur, so that Nepal also gains visibly.

India–Nepal rail links show that connectivity is the working core of Neighbourhood First: it turns shared geography and civilisation into real benefits. Quick wins like pilgrim trains should be matched by on-time completion of the flagship lines, on terms that clearly benefit Nepal. That will keep the policy credible and advance SDG 9 on resilient regional infrastructure.