New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nepal with an aim to inject new momentum to regional bloc SAARC during its two-day summit beginning Monday.
On his arrival here to attend his maiden SAARC Summit, Modi was accorded a warm welcome. He was given a guard of honour and a group of girls presented a cultural performance for him. Here are six key developments on Day 1:
Modi also inaugurated the trauma centre in Nepal today. The 200-bedded centre is a Rs 1.5 billion project of the Indian government. The centre will have 150 beds in the trauma ward, six operation theatres, 14 ICUs, eight resuscitation rooms and beds for emergency observation, 10 examination cubicles in the outpatient department and a triage area. The foundation of the centre was laid by former Prime Minister I K Gujral in 1997.
Showing India’s commitment to strengthening ties, Modi also handed over to Nepal an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) which will be used for military operations. “This will add to Nepal’s shield of protection,†Modi said. The Dhruv Mark 3 is manufactured by state-owned aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
India and Nepal today lifted a decade-long ban on carrying of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian bank notes by their nationals while visiting each other’s countries by setting a maximum limit of Rs 25,000 for the high denomination currency, benefiting tourists. “We have decided to allow our nationals to carry Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes up to the limit of Rs 25,000,†Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced here.
Indian bank notes above Rs 100 were banned in Nepal on India’s request as it feared that proliferation of fake currency in high denominations were infiltrating the country.
Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala today flagged off the Kathmandu-Delhi bus service called Pashupatinath Express from here. Before the flagging off, both the Prime Ministers hopped into the bus and interacted with the travellers of the bus, which was decorated with streamers, balloons and flowers.
The bus service is touted to be a major boost in terms of trade and tourism and will also strengthen the bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries. The route, the bus service will follow would be from Kathmandu, Bhairawa, Sanauli, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and New Delhi.
Modi makes strong pitch for early drafting of Nepal’s Constitution. He said, “I request all political stakeholders to draft the Constitution by early next year as committed through consensus which will reflect aspirations of all communities, including Madhesis, Pahadis and Maoists...failing to do so can cause difficulties to Nepal and your difficulty despite our expertise to help you in this field is a matter of sadness.â€
Modi held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala on key strategic issues after which ten agreements, including a pact on USD 1 billion assistance to Nepal, were inked.
India and Nepal today signed the Motor Vehicle Agreement under which permit would be given to vehicles to ply on designated routes in each other’s country.
They also inked three twin-city pacts between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya.
The 10 agreements signed between the two countries include, MoU on India’s assistance to Nepal in the construction (rpt) construction of the National Police Academy, MoU on Tourism, MoU Traditional Medicines and MoU on Youth Exchange.
A MoU was also signed on a project development agreement over the 900 megawatt hydro-electric project on the Arun river in Nepal.
(With PTI inputs)
