Indian envoy inaugurates bridge over river in Nepal

RAXAUL: Nepal on Sunday inaugurated an Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) bridge built with India’s financial assistance of NPR 4.45 crore on the Kaligandaki river near China border. The bridge at Jomsom area in Mustang district not only provides direct motorable connectivity to people but also benefits thousands of tourists and pilgrims visiting the famous Muktinath temple and upper Mustang for trekking, Indian Embassy sources said.
The newly-constructed bridge was inaugurated by Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri.He said the government of India (GOI) has extended a financial assistance for construction of this project under its Small Development Programme Scheme as a part of Indo–Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme.
“The old suspension bridge built on river Kaligandaki could not be used for motor transport. People had to alight from their vehicles and took another vehicle from across the river to reach their destination. The newly-constructed RCC bridge would not only provide direct connectivity to the locals of Mustang but also benefit thousands of tourists and pilgrims visiting Muktinath temple and other parts of upper Mustang for trekking,” he said.
A press release issued by the embassy said, the GOI-aided projects worth NRs. 25.77 crore have been completed in Mustang district. These projects include school buildings, dharmshala at Muktinath temple, renovation of community hall at Jharkot, Muktinath, water supply project at Muknith, and river protection work at Kagbeni. Apart from this, five ambulances have been donated to various organizations in Mustang district.
The press release further said that Indo-Nepal Economic programme has an outlay of over NPR 76 billion with more than 554 large and small development projects completed or currently being implemented all across Nepal in cooperation with the Government of Nepal. These development projects mainly focussed in education, health and infrastructure development sectors recognizing and responding to local needs to help the Government of Nepal achieving all inclusive socio-economic development.