Kathmandu, February 19:

Japanese ambassador to Nepal, Tsutomu Hiraoka, today signed a grant contract of $182660 (Rs 12,837,345) to Dhulikhel hospital for the implementation of the project for the construction of a students’ hostel for the Dhulikhel Medical Institute in Kavre.

A Japanese Embassy press release stated that the grant would be utilised for the construction of a two-storey hostel building with 57 rooms.

“Twenty-five per cent of the total Nepali currency would be borne by the hospital and the community people,” it stated.

“I think the hostel will contribute in improving the environment in which they study and will foster good medical personnel working to improve the medical status of the country, including rural areas,” the release quoted envoy Hiraoka as saying.