New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Nepal will take the bilateral ties to Himalayan heights and also resolve their border issue, after holding talks with visiting Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
The two sides announced several initiatives, including the inaugural run of an Indian railway cargo train from Bathnaha (India) to Nepal Customs Yard and inauguration of ICPs at Nepalgunj (Nepal) and Rupaidiha (India).
In his remarks, after the bilateral talks with the Nepal PM, PM Modi said: “We will continue to work towards taking our bilateral ties to the heights of the Himalayas.
“And in this context, we will work to resolve all our bilateral issues, including of boundary.”
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in tweets announced the new initiatives:
“Scripting new chapters in bilateral partnership.
“PM @narendramodi & PM @cmprachanda of Nepal virtually participated in groundbreaking/inauguration ceremony of various projects, giving boost to cross-border connectivity and flow of people, goods & energy.
1. Handing over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of railway line
2. Inaugural run of an Indian railway cargo train from Bathnaha (India) to Nepal Customs Yard
3. Inauguration of ICPs at Nepalgunj (Nepal) and Rupaidiha (India)
4. Groundbreaking ceremony of ICPs at Bhairahawa (Nepal) and Sonauli (India)
5. Groundbreaking ceremony of phase-II facilities under Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline
6. Groundbreaking ceremony of Indian portion of Gorakhpur-Bhutwal Transmission Line.”
In his address, PM Modi recalled: “I remember that nine years ago, in 2014, within three months after taking over in my first term, I travelled to Nepal for the first time.
“I had said that we will build such ties with Nepal that our borders should not act as our barriers.
“At that time I had given the hit formula for making the bilateral ties a hit – of highways, e-ways and transways.”
“Myself and PM Prachanda have taken important steps to make our partnership a superhit one, and in this context we have concluded the transit agreement.
“We have taken steps to open new railway routes for the people of Nepal, and along with that also arranged for inland waterways benefits.”
PM Modi also proposed fast tracking work on the Ramayan circuit. “India and Nepal have age-old religious and cultural ties, and PM Dahal and myself have agreed to fast forward the Ramayan circuit programmes.”
PM Modi and his Nepalese counterpart jointly virtually inaugurated the railway from Bathnaha (India) to Budhnagar (Nepal) from Hyderabad House by raising green flags.
With the inauguration, the Indian side saw off the cargo rail from Bathnaha, while Nepali government officials are set to welcome it at Budhnagar.
The entrepreneurs and industrialists in Koshi Province were demanding the government to facilitate the cargo transportation up to the Integrated Customs Check Post, Biratnagar from Bathnaha.
The 8-km railway line had been tested for operations previously. It was tested again on Wednesday for the operation.
