SM Krishna lays foundation stone of dev projects in Birgunj
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna on Friday laid the foundation stone of two projects that are being undertaken with Indian assistance in Birgunj.
The projects are Integrated Check Post (ICP) and Birgunj-Thori road being built under Terai Road Project Phase I. “Both these projects would be extremely important for enhancing Nepal’s connectivity with India and providing physical infrastructure to the people of Nepal,” said Krishna, at the foundation stone laying ceremony. Krishna also pledged India’s continuous support to Nepal.
The ICP is being constructed with an Indian government assistance of Rs 1.37 billion at Alau VDC in Parsa district. The project is a part of India-funded project that aims at establishing three additional ICPs in Nepalgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa. The ICP at Birgunj would be the counterpart of a similar ICP being built in Raxaul, India, whose construction began in April 24, 2010. Under the project, a pagoda style gate, a customs office and a yard would be built on either side of the border.
India had agreed to provide Rs 5 billion for the construction of ICPs at four customs points as per the Mirror Image Concept, under which same facilities and structures will be built on either side of the border.
The ICP is expected to establish a systematic and properly inter-connected border check post. In a bid to provide services such as immigration, customs clearance and quarantine checking effectively, the Indian government has been supporting the construction of such ICPs along its border with neighbouring countries, specially Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The construction of ICP was delayed due to obstruction of locals of Srisia and Alau VDCs, demanding ‘suitable’ compensation for their land. The construction of ICP on the Indian side of the border is almost halfway through.
“These projects are a part of the India-Nepal Cooperation Programme that includes over 400 projects with a total outlay of Rs 58 billion,” said Krishna.
The Government of India is also providing assistance to construct 19 different road sections with a total length of 650 km in various districts of Tarai. The 53-km Birgunj-Thori road section will be constructed in the first phase. According to Krishna, India will construct bridges over 14 out of 15 rivers along the road.
Posted on: 2011-04-23 09:48
Post Your Comment
Today's Paper
The Kantipur in Print
FROM THE PAST 7 DAYS
ENTER KEYWORD OR DATE
FROM THE PAST 7 DAYS
ENTER KEYWORD OR DATE
Abin
All of them discussed the issue. The result was the same...and we have committed to continue discussions on the issue till midnight.
ADVERTISEMENTS
OUR PUBLICATION :
