Your Excellency PM Prachanda ji, members of delegation from Nepal and India, friends from media. Namaskar!
First of all I would like to welcome PM Prachanda ji and his delegation on their arrival in India.
I would like to recall that nine years ago in 2014, I visited Nepal within three months of assuming office. That was my first visit to Nepal and during the visit I shared a HIT formula to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Nepal. HIT – Highways, I-ways and Trans-ways.
During the visit I had emphasized that we will establish such relations between India and Nepal that our borders do not become barriers between us.
Instead of using trucks for transportation, pipelines should be utilized to export oil.
We should construct bridges on rivers connecting both the countries.
We should facilitate import of electricity from Nepal.
Friends,
After nine years, today it gives me immense pleasure to say that partnership between the two countries is indeed hit.
During the last nine years we have made a number of achievements in various fields.
First ICP in Nepal was constructed in Birgunj.
First petroleum pipeline was constructed between India and Nepal.
First broad-gauge rail link between the two countries has been inaugurated.
New cross-border transmission lines have been developed. We are now importing more than 450 MW electricity from Nepal.
If we go on narrating our achievements of last nine years, the whole day will pass.
Friends,
Today PM Prachanda ji and myself have taken a few important decisions to make our future partnership super hit.
Today we have concluded transit agreement which includes
new railway routes for the people of Nepal. A provision has also been made for facilitation of India’s inland waterways.
We have decided to increase our rail connectivity by constructing new rail links to increase physical connectivity. Furthermore, it has also been decided to provide training to Railway personnel of Nepal in training institutes of Indian Railway.
In order to provide the connectivity with the far western areas of Nepal, two more bridges will be built in Sirsha and Julaghat.
We welcome our initiatives to strengthen financial connectivity with cross-border digital payment. This will hugely benefit thousands of students, tourists, pilgrims and patients coming for treatment to India.
Financial connectivity will be strengthened with construction of three new ICP’s. Last year we had issued a joint vision statement on power sector cooperation. Taking it forward, a long-term power trade agreement has been signed between the two countries today.
According to the agreement, we aim to import 10,000 MW electricity from Nepal in the next 10 years.
Agreements on Karnali and lower Arun hydro power projects has strengthened cooperation in power sector.
Considering the positive impact of Motihari– Amlekhgunj pipeline, it has been decided to extend this pipeline to Chitwan.
Besides, a new pipeline will also be constructed from Siliguri in India to Jhapa in eastern Nepal.
New storage terminals will also be established in Chitwan and Jhapa.
We have also mutually agreed upon establishing a new fertiliser plant in Nepal.
Friends,
India and Nepal share an age-old relationship with strong religious and cultural connection. To strengthen this unique and beautiful relation, PM Prachanda ji and I have decided to speed up projects related to Ramayana circuit.
We will continue to work together to take our relations as high as the Himalayas.
In the same spirit, we wish to resolve all our issues including border related or any other matter.
Excellency PM Prachanda ji, you are embarking on a visit to Indore and religious city Ujjain tomorrow. I’m sure that your journey will be joyous and energetic and your journey from Lord Pashupatinath to Mahakaleshwar will also be very spiritual.
Thank you very much.