NC leader Nidhi, Indian Minister for Road Transport, Gadkari meet

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress former vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi and Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, discussed the issue of Nepal’s physical infrastructure development.

During the meeting held at the residence of Minister Gadkari on Wednesday, NC leader Nidhi urged India to construct Ayodhya-Bhitthamod four-lane road up to Nepal’s Jatahi border via Girijasthan of Madhubani district of India.

Nidhi’s press advisor Ramji Dahal told RSS that after the request of leader Nidhi, Minister Gadkari immediately telephoned officers of the ministry and the Department of Road and directed them to put the construction of an additional road up to the Jatahi checkpoint in the Ministry’s programme.

It may be recalled here that the Jatahi-Janakpur-Dhalkebar six-lane road project was completed when Nidhi was the Minister for Physical Infrastructure.

During the meeting, Nidhi urged the Indian minister to consider developing an alternative international trade route from Kolkata Port to Nepal’s Jatahi border via Darbhanga.

Leader Nidhi and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister in India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, also held a meeting at Gadkari’s residence.

During the meeting, they touched on the issues relating to the enhancement of roadways in both countries, water resources and hydropower development and the control of floods.

Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr Shankar Sharma, was also present on the occasion.

He presented issues pertaining to Line of Credit and India’s technical assistance in Nepal’s infrastructure development.