A freight transit network model to optimise seaport access for the landlocked nation Nepal

초록

This paper develops a weighted-sum scalarised mixed-integer linear programming framework to evaluate freight-transit route options connecting Kathmandu, Nepal, with key seaports in Kolkata, India; Chittagong, Bangladesh; and Tianjin, China. The model compares road-only and rail–road configurations and incorporates transportation cost, carbon emissions, transshipment requirements, and delivery lead time within a unified corridor-level decision-support framework. The analysis evaluates alternative corridor configurations linking Kathmandu with Kolkata, Chittagong via India, and Tianjin through inland rail and road connections, including Xi’an and Lhasa. Alternative weighting scenarios are used to represent different policy priorities, including cost efficiency, time sensitivity, and carbon-emission reduction. The results consistently identify the Kolkata–Kathmandu corridor as the most efficient option because of its shorter inland distance and favourable rail–road configuration. The Chittagong–Kathmandu corridor remains a relevant complementary alternative but is constrained by additional border-processing requirements and transit dependency through India. The Tianjin–Kathmandu corridor benefits from comparatively stronger logistics infrastructure along parts of the route; however, its substantially longer inland distance remains a major structural disadvantage. The contribution of the study lies in integrating the landlocked country–transit country–seaport structure into a corridor-level decision-support framework for Nepal rather than in proposing a new optimisation algorithm. The findings support a corridor-based planning approach focused on improving rail utilisation, transshipment efficiency, and cross-border logistics coordination. © 2026 The Authors.

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