People-to-people contact and cargo movement will get a boost between India and Nepal as the two neighboring nations have agreed to build a strategic railway link between Raxaul, Indian state of Bihar, and Kathmandu, the Napalese capital city.
Nepalese President KP Sharma Oli is on a three-day visit to India and the announcement was made following delegation-level talks between counterparts of both the countries.
Released press statement reveals India has agreed to build the new electrified rail link with the view to expand connectivity, enhance people-to-people linkages and promote economic growth as well as development.
In March 2016 China and Nepal agreed to build a rail line between the two countries through Tibet with the view to reduce total dependency of the Nepalese land on India.
The Chinese country also agreed to construct three highways connecting Nepal and these may be completed by 2020.
Following a border blockade in 2015-16 the relation between Nepal and India started turning sour and amid the same time agreements between Nepal and China were signed.
Many Nepalese blame India for the blockade that cripped the economy of Nepal. Despite India’s policy of “neighborhood first,” New Delhi started losing hold in the immediate backyard and China started expanding its strategic base there.
The new agreement between India and Nepal may rebuild the trusts and Oli said, “Nepal will extend full cooperation for early completion of the requisite surveys for the new rail line.’
The post India-Nepal Agrees Building Rail Line Between Raxaul and Kathmandu: KP Oli appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
