Nepal-India discuss Tarai road, rail links
KATHMANDU, JUN 30 -
A meeting of senior government officials from Nepal and India began here on Thursday to asses the latest position and status of two infrastructure-related projects funded by both countries.
The two-day meeting will primarily dwell on construction of the India-funded Tarai road project. Of the six phases of the project, construction of two phases has started from Dhangadhi. During the first phase, India will construct 19 roads totaling 605 km and 19 bridges. The first phase of road construction will cost approximately Rs 800 million.
According to a government official, four remaining phases of the Tarai road project will start in a couple of months at various points.
The third project steering committee is led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Komal Pandey, whereas Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Satish Mehta, is leading the Indian side. The entire work, to be implemented in two phases, will see over 41 roads built totaling 1,450 km of blacktopped, all-weather road in Nepal's Tarai region at an estimated cost of Rs 16,000 million.
The meeting will also discuss two railway connections between India and Nepal and is expected to finalise the funding modality and acquisition of land, among other things.
The two countries have explored possibilities of setting up new railway lines through five different routes. Two of these routes -- a 17.65-km stretch between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) and a 70-km stretch from Jaynagar (India) to Bardibas (Nepal) via Baijalpura (Nepal) -- are likely to be given top priority, said the official.
India has already sanctioned Rs 4.7 billion for the Jaynagar-Birdibas line and Rs 2.1 billion for the Jogbani-Biratnagar line while Nepal is likely to contribute some funds to execute these projects, added the official.
A 12.11-km stretch between Nepalgunj Road (India) and Nepalgunj (Nepal), a 15.30- km stretch between Nautanwa (India) and Bhairahawa (Nepal) and a 46.30-km stretch between New Jalpaiguri (India) and Kakarbhitta (Nepal) are other three railway links that have been explored for setting up railway lines between the two countries.
Source: Kantipur
A meeting of senior government officials from Nepal and India began here on Thursday to asses the latest position and status of two infrastructure-related projects funded by both countries.
The two-day meeting will primarily dwell on construction of the India-funded Tarai road project. Of the six phases of the project, construction of two phases has started from Dhangadhi. During the first phase, India will construct 19 roads totaling 605 km and 19 bridges. The first phase of road construction will cost approximately Rs 800 million.
According to a government official, four remaining phases of the Tarai road project will start in a couple of months at various points.
The third project steering committee is led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Komal Pandey, whereas Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Satish Mehta, is leading the Indian side. The entire work, to be implemented in two phases, will see over 41 roads built totaling 1,450 km of blacktopped, all-weather road in Nepal's Tarai region at an estimated cost of Rs 16,000 million.
The meeting will also discuss two railway connections between India and Nepal and is expected to finalise the funding modality and acquisition of land, among other things.
The two countries have explored possibilities of setting up new railway lines through five different routes. Two of these routes -- a 17.65-km stretch between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) and a 70-km stretch from Jaynagar (India) to Bardibas (Nepal) via Baijalpura (Nepal) -- are likely to be given top priority, said the official.
India has already sanctioned Rs 4.7 billion for the Jaynagar-Birdibas line and Rs 2.1 billion for the Jogbani-Biratnagar line while Nepal is likely to contribute some funds to execute these projects, added the official.
A 12.11-km stretch between Nepalgunj Road (India) and Nepalgunj (Nepal), a 15.30- km stretch between Nautanwa (India) and Bhairahawa (Nepal) and a 46.30-km stretch between New Jalpaiguri (India) and Kakarbhitta (Nepal) are other three railway links that have been explored for setting up railway lines between the two countries.
Source: Kantipur
