National
Joint panel reviews status of India-funded projects
The current status of two India-funded projects—Tarai Roads Project and construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICP) in Nepal—was discussed and reviewed in Kathmandu and New Delhi.
The current status of two India-funded projects—Tarai Roads Project and construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICP) in Nepal—was discussed and reviewed in Kathmandu and New Delhi.
The first meeting of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) of the Tarai Roads Project was held Wednesday at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, in Kathmandu where the progress made in the Tarai roads projects was discussed and other problems faced by the projects, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Ahead of the meeting in Kathmandu, the JPMC undertook joint inspection of the progress of different roads in Biratnagar and Janakpur. Both the sides are implementing these projects as per mutually agreed “government of India-funded and government of Nepal-implemented” modalities.
According to an Indian Embassy statement, during the meeting and the joint inspection, the consultant for the Project National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) briefed the delegates about the progress achieved in the Tarai Roads project so far.
“Both sides expressed satisfaction at the award of contracts and release of mobilisation advance to the contractors for all the ten roads being constructed,” the statement reads. During the review of the progress of implementation of these projects, the Nepali side agreed to take necessary steps to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest clearance and removal of other encumbrances so that the project is completed in time. The completion of Tarai Roads Project would facilitate faster and convenient movement of people as well as goods and services across regions of Nepal.
The 8th meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the construction of the Integrated Check Posts was held at New Delhi on Thursday. Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of Nepal Deependra Nath Sharma and the Secretary for Border Management in the Government of India Braj Raj Sharma co-chaired the meeting, according to the Embassy.
During the meeting, the consultant for the project RITES India Ltd briefed the delegates about the progress achieved in the construction of the ICPs at Birgunj and Biratnagar so far.
RITES Ltd also updated the PSC on the preparations for the construction of ICPs at Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. Both sides reviewed the progress of preparations ahead of operationalising the ICPs at Raxaul and Birgunj and agreed to resolve outstanding issues at the earliest, the statement added.
India and Nepal signed a MoU for the construction of the ICPs at four cross-border points along the India-Nepal border. In the first phase, the construction of ICPs at Raxaul-Birgunj as well as Jogbani-Biratnagar was taken up. The ICPs will have state-of-the-art facilities, integrated customs and immigration service etc. for smooth cross-border movement of goods and services as well as passenger traffic.