By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 3: Indian government has decided to provide a grant for the construction of a two-lane motorable bridge to join Darchula of Nepal with Dharchula of India.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Nepali and Indian officials on Tuesday for the construction.

Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Rabindra Nath Shrestha and Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra signed the MoU.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav. Around three weeks ago, the cabinet had decided to allow the ministry to sign the deal with the Indian counterparts.

“We have received several supports from India over the years. We expect the bridge will be constructed in time,” said Minister Yadav.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Kwatra also stressed that the bridge would connect Nepal’s Sudurpashchim Province to India’s Uttarakhand.
“The construction of bridge will start soon. It will allow people from both sides to commute easily,” said Kwatra.

Suresh Poudel, a senior division engineer at the ministry, informed that the bridge would be completed within three years.
“The contractor will repair the bridge for the next four years after construction. India and Nepal will jointly decide on the long-term repairing plan,” said Poudel.

The bridge will be 110 metres in length and seven metres in width. It will be constructed under an investment of IRs 480 million (about NRs. 767 million).
The bridge will be located at Dhap, an area 10-kilometres south of Darchula Bazaar. Recently a suspension bridge has been constructed there to connect the two countries.