KATHMANDU, JUNE 1

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he has taken many important decisions to make the 'hit' friendship between India and Nepal a 'super hit'.

In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, he informed that many important decisions had been taken to make the friendly relations between the two countries a 'super hit' in the future.

PM Modi raised the issues of connectivity between India and Nepal from religious and cultural relations. Claiming that we have made several achievements in various fields during the last nine years, he expressed confidence that bilateral relationship between the two countries would be taken to a higher level He said that he still remembered very well, nine years ago in 2014, when he had travelled to Nepal for the first time three months after assuming office.

At that time, I had given a 'hit' (HIT formula) about the relationship between India and Nepal, Highways, Iways and Transways. At that time, I had said that we will establish such a connection between India and Nepal that our borders will not become obstacles in any way.

At that time, my wish was that instead of tankers, petroleum products should be exported through pipelines, bridges should be built over common rivers and facilities should be expanded to export electricity from Nepal to India.

Today after nine years I am more than happy that our friendship is really a 'hit', said PM Modi.

He also said that during the last nine years, the two countries had achieved much in diverse fields. Nepal's first IPC has been built in Birgunj. For the first time, a cross-border petroleum pipeline has been built between India and Nepal.

A broad gauge rail line has been established for the first time, and a new transmission line has been constructed on the border.

'Similarly, we (India) are importing 450 megawatts of electricity from Nepal. Now, if we start counting the achievements we have achieved in the last nine years, it would take the whole day. Even today Prime Minister Dahal and I have taken many important decisions to make our friendly relationship a 'super hit' in the future.'

'Transit Agreement' has been completed today. Along with the new railway route for Nepali people, the facility of India's inland waterways has also been provided. Decision has been taken to increase physical connectivity by establishing new rail links. In addition to this, training will also be provided to railway workers from Nepal at the Indian Railway Institute, Modi said.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.