Janakpur, one of the major Nepali cities having significant religious and cultural essence, is in the cusp of a new era, as development works are moving ahead at a rapid pace with implementation of several infrastructure projects.

Construction of key projects, including roadways and drainage system under the Integrated Town Development Programme funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has already begun.

Under the project worth Rs988.2 million, a total of 9.5km of road and 30km of drainage system will be built.

Some of the projects that are moving ahead at a satisfactory pace are Janakpur-Jatahi and Janakpur-Vittamod road sections that link Janakpur with India. Janakpur-Jatahi is a six-lane road project and is expected to ease vehicular movement, especially large containers shipping goods to and from India.

A roadway that links different religious and cultural sites in Janakpur too is under construction. The 86km road will link remote areas of Dhanusha and Mahotari, and will ease religious pilgrimage.

Indian President Pranav Mukharjee, during his Janakpur visit, had expressed commitment to build four pilgrims’ rest houses along the same road section.

“Once the construction of the roadway and pilgrims’ rest houses is completed, more people are likely to take religious tours and road trips,” Raj Kumar Sharma, president of the Janakpur Area Development Council, said. Also, construction of postal road that connects Janakpur, headquarters of Dhanusha district, with remote villages of the district; Sahid Road; and Janakpur-Kharihani road segment has begun.

Former chief of Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City Bajrang Prasad Sah is quite optimistic about the future of this city. “Road, drainage and sanitation were some of the major issues of this city.

The construction of these projects will provide some relief,” Sah said.

Apart from roadways and drainage projects, Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway, the only railway line in the country, too is being upgraded at a rapid pace. The railway line with a history of eight decades has remained defunct for the last four years, causing inconvenience to local commuters and businesses.

Likewise, construction of Jaynagar-Janakpur-Bijulpura-Bardibas broad gauge railway line too has begun. The project is being financed by India.

Activities like filling soil and boulders in the railway track have been completed, while bridges too are being built. Construction of service quarters for employees and railway station in Jaynagar, India, has also been completed. Similarly, railway station construction in Khajuri, Mahina Thupar, Parwaha and Janakpur too is on track. The progress, however, is slow.

Established in 1994, Jaynagar-Janakpur railway line stretches 52km from Bijulpura, Mahotari to Jaynagar, India. As per the plan, the railway line will be extended by 17km linking Bijulpura with Bardibas.