Raxaul is a major border town in East Champaran district of Bihar, located on the India–Nepal border and serving as an important transit point for trade and movement between the two countries.[4]
The economy of the surrounding region is primarily based on agriculture and cross-border trade activities.[5]
Parts of East Champaran district, including nearby towns such as Mehsi, are known for horticultural production, particularly litchi cultivation, which is a significant agricultural product of the region.[6]
Demographics
As of 2011[update] India census,[7] Raxaul Bazar had a population of 104,532. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Raxaul Bazar has an average literacy rate of 75.62%, higher than the state average of 61.80%: male literacy is 82.14%, and female literacy is 68.25%. In Raxaul Bazar, 16.21% of the population is under 6 years of age. People communicate with each other in the Bhojpuri language.
Raxaul is the only city that is connected with Nepal. Birgunj railway station is connected by the Nepal Government Railway (NGR) to Raxaul Junction railway station in Bihar across the border with India. The 47 kilometres (29mi) railway extends north to Amlekhganj in Nepal. It was built in 1927 by the British but discontinued beyond Birgunj in December 1965. The 6km (3.7mi) railway track from Raxaul to Birgunj was converted to broad gauge two years after the Indian railways converted the track to Raxaul inside India to broad gauge. Now, broad gauge railway line connects Raxaul to the Sirsiya (Birgunj) Inland Container Depot (ICD) which became fully operational in 2005. Talks have been held to reopen the railway route from Birgunj to Amlekhganj in Nepal by converting it to broad gauge because of its socio-economic importance.[3]
Delhi is connected via Satyagraha Express and Sadbhawna Express. Earlier, all tracks were metre gauge but most have been converted to 5ft6in (1,676mm)broad gauge. After the completion of the gauge conversion from Darbhanga to Raxaul via Sitamarhi, another broad gauge route to Raxaul became available from March 2014. The metre gauge track from Raxaul to Narkatiaganj converted in 2018/august.03 pair passenger trains operated in this route.
Raxaul Junction in 2011
Road
Raxaul is connected to major cities of India by National Highway 28A.
It is the main route to Nepal. The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu is connected with India through this highway. There is a bus terminal from where buses are available for most of the cities in Bihar and Jharkhand.
Aviation
Raxaul Airport (ICAO: VERL) is located in Raxaul. It was established after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, when it served as an emergency landing ground for the Indian Army. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) that owns the airport has undertaken a pre-feasibility study at the airport to upgrade the airport to handle ATR-72 aircraft. A draft Master Plan highlighting a requirement of an additional 121 acres of land has been submitted to the State Government.
Now, there is currently no scheduled commercial air service. Raxaul can be reached by flying to Simara in Nepal. That airport is 27km from Raxaul and has direct flights to Kathmandu. A proposal to operationalize the airport for civilian use has been drafted.
View of Raxaul from Flyover Bypass NH28A
Border crossing
India and Nepal have an open border with no restrictions on movement of their nationals and no need of visa or passport documents for local people. There is a customs checkpoint for goods and third country nationals. There are Jeeps, Cars, Tempos (Three wheels vehicles), and the Tangas (Horse Driven 6 seater Rickshaws) from Raxaul station for Birganj bus park.
Gateway to Nepal outside Birgunj in 2015
Traffic congestion
Despite the presence of a bypass road for heavy vehicles, traffic congestion is frequently reported in the town of Raxaul. Local traffic, commercial activities, and the movement of smaller vehicles often lead to severe congestion on the main roads within the city. During peak hours and market periods, long traffic queues are commonly observed in several parts of the town.
A train stuck in traffic at a railway crossing in Raxaul, Bihar in 2018
River
Sariswa River
Sariswa River Flood View from Raxaul Railway Footbridge
The river, Sariswa (Sirsiya), a tributary of the Burhi Gandak, originates from Pathlahia hill of the dense Ramban forests in Nepal, its course roaming through the subdivision cutting through Bara and Parsa districts in Nepal and Raxaul in Bihar, India. It flows southwards from the place of its origin for about 15km in Nepal and then enters India at Raxaul. From here, the river flows about 20km in India and joins Burhi Gandak near Sugauli in East Champaran district. The water is pure in its contents and have full of medicinal values like other Himalayan rivers. It maintains its valuable contents till Parwanipur. But after it, unrestrained untreated wastes are being dumped by the 46 factories situated at Birgunj (Nepal) which make this river contaminated. The colour of the river turned into black besides, emanating foul smell has made the life of the people, who dwell near the river, a nightmare.
Canal
Triveni Canal in Raxaul
The Triveni Canal was constructed in 1979. It is mainly used for irrigation in northwest Bihar. It was built on the Gandak River to provide irrigation to the Champaran district.
Bangari River
It is the neighbor river of Sariswa (Sirsiya) river.
.jpg)