This is part of cross-border connectivity for streamlining commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges

India and Nepal on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of a motorable bridge over the Mahakali river connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula (Nepal) under Indian grant assistance.

The project will enhance cross-border connectivity between the Sudurpaschim province of Nepal and the Uttarakhand state of India across the Mahakali river where close people-to-people links exist between communities on both sides of the border, said a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

The MoU was signed by Ambassador of India Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Nepal, Rabindra Nath Shrestha, in the presence of Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Nepal, Renu Kumari Yadav.

The construction of the bridge is planned to commence soon.

The project 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 added.

According to the Indian Embassy website, New Delhi has constructed 807 kilometres out of the total road length of 1024 Kilometres of the East–West Highway from Mahendranagar to Mechi (Mahendra Raj Marg), which is today a life line of Nepal.

Twenty-two bridges were constructed by India on Kohalpur-Mahakali section of the East West Highway and were handed over to the Government of Nepal in 2001, the website stated.

Besides this, in recent times, 8 village and urban roads and 1 bridge have been constructed with Indian assistance of Rs 12.83 crores under Small Development Projects Programme to provide easy access to the people of remote villages, it added.

Currently, work is ongoing for construction of 8 roads and 3 bridges at a cost of Rs. 20.43 crores, the website said.

India is also funding the upgradation of road from Dakshanikali (Kathmandu) to Kulekhani (Makwanpur) at a cost approximately Rs. 9.37crores and an additional fund of Rs.3.11 crores has been sanctioned for additional work relating to drainage, land sliding, and slop stabilization, it informed.