Kathmandu, January 26

The Government of Switzerland has agreed to provide a total of CHF 9.9 million (approximately one billion rupees) to the Government of Nepal to accelerate construction of bridges and facilitate improved access through Motorable Local Road Bridge Programme, Phase III.

The proposed three-and-a-half years phase would begin from March 2017 and end in July 2020. Over the last six years, MLRBP has supported construction of 390 bridges in 75 districts, of which 137 bridges have been completed.

The third phase is expected to benefit a total of four million people across the country through improved access to services, markets and employment. The disadvantaged groups will benefit especially through their involvement in labour contribution for bridge construction and maintenance works. The agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged between Jörg Giovanni Frieden, ambassador, the Embassy of Switzerland and Baikuntha Aryal, joint secretary, International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance today.

Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Nepal represented by Department of Archaeology and the Government of Switzerland represented by the Embassy of Switzerland yesterday. Through this MoU, Switzerland will rehabilitate two monuments (Tripurasunadri and Taleju temples) and a heritage cobblestone foot trail connecting the heritage monuments in Dolakha at the cost of Rs 75,000,000.