In an important development in the relations between India and Nepal, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday for the construction of a 110-meter motorable bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula in Uttarakhand with Darchula in Nepal.
This project is being funded with the Indian grant assistance and Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and Nepal’s Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Rabindra Nath Shrestha signed the MoU in presence of Transport Minister Renu Kumari Yadav, statement Indian Embassy, Katmandu.
For years the relationship between India and Nepal had deteriorated which China took full advantage of, however, with the signing of this agreement will go a long way in mending the long and historic connection both nations share.
India will bear all the cost of constructing the bridge as per the agreement and preparation of a detailed project report for the bridge has already been completed and the construction work of the bridge will start soon.
The bridge will enhance cross-border connectivity between the Sudurpaschim province of Nepal and Uttarakhand across the Mahakali river where close people-to-people links exist between communities on both sides of the border.
“This is in line with the priority shared by both the governments to expand cross-border connectivity for streamlining commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” the statement said.
In January, the Government of India government had approved signing of the MoU between the two countries to build this important bridge and according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, the bridge will be completed within three years.
Thakur called the construction of this bridge unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterized by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture that India and Nepal share.
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