KATHMANDU: India has agreed to provide additional air routes to Nepal for the operation of international flights. Issuing a press release, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that agreement to this effect has been signed between CAAN and Airports Authority of India (AAI) after conclusion of talks, today. On December 20-21, 2016, Nepal and India had agreed to arrive at a decision regarding addition of air routes after carrying out technical discussions between concerned authorities of the two countries, reads the statement. Talks were carried out between the two countries on technical aspects in line with the joint statement issued to this effect on May 12, 2018 by the prime ministers of both nations. In this connection, both sides have agreed to operate two-way air routes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and Kathmandu to Janakpur. International flights to Nepal can now enter from Janakpur and Biratnagar, on the basis of flight security evaluation carried out by both sides. Likewise, it has been agreed that Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi air route would be made two-way for aircraft flying in lower altitude, which would also be implemented post security evaluation. These provisions would facilitate the cross-border flights between Nepal and India. The statement further reads that international aircraft flying at high altitude from future international airports — Gautam Buddha, Pokhara and Nijgadh airports — would be provided entry points from Nepalgunj and Mahendranagar from the western side, for which detailed technical evaluation would be carried out within September 2018. Similarly, both the nations have decided to reach an agreement to work in the sector of air navigation by exchanging technical support, the statement indicates.