By Our Correspondent
Nepalgunj, Nov.14 :Works on the Integrated Customs Check Post (ICP) along the Nepal-India border area in Nepalgunj has begun.
Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Minister of Urban Development of Nepal and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, jointly inaugurated the construction of the ICP through video conference on Thursday.
Addressing the event via video conference, Minister Shrestha said that the project would help strengthen the ties between the two countries and prove to be a milestone in Nepal's economic development and that the business in Western Nepal would increase sharply after the construction of the same.
Once completed, the project will facilitate trade and business because the hassles we have been enduring will come to an end, said Shrestha.
On the occasion, Minister Goyal said that the construction of ICP between Nepalgunj and Rupadiya would help strengthen the historical ties between the two countries and take the bilateral trade to a new height.
Stating that ICPs built earlier in Birgunj and Biratnagar with the help of the government of India were doing a great job, he said that the third ICP to be built there would increase trade between the two countries in a transparent and easy way.
Stating that Nepal-India relations are exemplary in the world, he said that India was committed to supporting Nepal's economic development and prosperity.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli, works were underway to deepen the relations between the two countries.
On the occasion, Federal Parliamentary Member of Banke Constituency No. 1, Maheshwar Gahajraj Athak and Mayor of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolis, Dr. Dhawal Shamsher Rana stressed on completing the ICP construction in stipulated time.
Construction has now started, 10 years after the land was acquired for the same.
After a long period of confusion, Rights Limited has been appointed as the consultant for the ICP while Rajdeep Buildcon Company of India has been tasked with the construction work.
The project is expected to be completed within the next two years.
For the ICP, the government of Nepal has acquired about 90 bighas of land on the Nepali side connected to the Rupadia port of India.
The ICP will be constructed at the cost of Rs 2.35 billion with the assistance of the government of India.