India-Nepal inks Mahakali River bridge pact

In a major boost to infrastructure in the border areas of the two countries, India and Nepal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a motor-able Bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula (Nepal) and that the initiative has been described as a sign of support for an infrastructure project in the Himalayan State. The MoU was signed by the Ambassador of India to Nepal 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 proposed bridge will provide motorable cross-border connectivity with Nepal in that area. The project will enhance cross-border connectivity between the Sudurpaschim province of Nepal and the Uttarakhand state of India across the Mahakali River where age-old traditional, cultural and 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.