Indian govt provides Rs 237.39 million support for postal highway project

Kathmandu, July 20

Ambassador of India Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque for an amount of INR 148.37 million, which is equivalent to Rs 237.39 million, to Devendra Karki, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport here on Wednesday.

The amount has been released towards 25 per cent of tendered cost, including 10 per cent mobilisation advance, of the two contracted road stretches namely Maisthan-Gaushalabazaar-Samsi Road and Birendrabazaar-Yadukuha-Mahinathpur Road being implemented under Postal Highway Project in Nepal with Indian government’s grant assistance worth Rs eight billion, as per a media release.

Earlier, on January 30, an amount of Rs 249.71 million was released for the project towards 25 per cent of tendered cost of four contracted road stretches, namely Birendrabazaar-Mahinathpur, Janakpur-Yadukuwa road, Manmat-Kalaiya-Matiarwa (0-15 km road) and Manmat-Kalaiya-Matiarwa (15-26.660 km road).

So far, construction of two sections — Dhangadhi-Bhajaniya-Satti road and Lamki-Tikapur-Khakraula road — of the postal highway has been completed with Indian government’s grant assistance worth Rs 1.02 billion, which were inaugurated on January 19 at Dhangadhi.

Since 1950, the government of India has been supporting infrastructure development of Nepal and has provided financial assistance for construction of various highways, roads, bridges and airports, among others as part of its multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme, release adds.