Infrastructure: India, Nepal review Terai road projects
New Delhi: India and Nepal reviewed the Rs.500 crore Terai road projects on their borders to make transportation easier with 13 out of 14 road packages (contracts) completed, officials informed.
The fourth Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) on the strengthening of road infrastructure in Nepal’s Terai area was held through a videoconference on Thursday. It was co-chaired by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Northern Division) of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Keshab Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Officials assessed the overall development of the Government of India-sponsored Terai roads project in Nepal which, they noted, had made significant progress. Thirteen of the 14 road packages have already been completed in March 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2016, India had contributed Nepali Rupees (NR) 800 crore (INR 500 crore) for the development of ten roads (split into 14 packages/contracts) totaling 306 kilometers in Nepal’s Terai area. These routes connect the East-West Highway to the Indian border, making it easier for people from both countries to commute.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
