Nepal‚ India set to sign Motor Vehicle Agreement

KATHMANDU:

Nepal and India are expected to finalise the Motor Vehicle Agreement within November, a statement issued today by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu says.

A decision in this regard was taken during a meeting held on October 30. Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nepal, and Vijay Chhibber, secretary at the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, India, led the talks on behalf of Nepal and India, respectively.

“The agreement is designed to facilitate unhindered and seamless movement of people through passenger vehicles across the border,” says the statement. “This agreement also intends to simplify the procedure for movement of private vehicles across the border.”

The agreement proposes to start regular bus services on three routes: Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Sunauli-Gorakhpur-Lucknow-New Delhi, Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Sunauli-Azamgarh-Varanasi, and Pokhara-Bhairahawa-Sunauli-Gorakhpur-Lucknow-New Delhi. “One of the bus routes is expected to be flagged-off soon after the mutual agreement (is signed),” says the statement.

During the meet, Nepal and India also agreed to ‘assist the proposed India-Nepal Friendship Car Rally on the Puri-Kathmandu-Delhi route’. Two sides also decided to prepare Detailed Feasibility Report for three motorable bridges on Mahakali river in Mahendranagar, Jhulaghat, Darchula and a suspension bridge at Shirsha VDC of Dadeldhura district, adds the statement.

Source: THT