Nepalese PM Deuba urged India to provide additional air entry routes during Lumbini talks
Kathmandu/New Delhi, May 17 (Agency) Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged India to provide additional air entry routes during the delegation-level talks held with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lumbini on Monday. Prime Minister Deuba requested for additional air routes from Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and Janakpur, to facilitate connectivity and travel between the two countries with commercial operations beginning at the second international airport–Gautam Buddha International Airport–in Bhairahawa.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the airway distance to Nepal from India and beyond will be shorter from these new routes. Nepal has been pressing India since a long time to open new air entry routes with the view of facilitating flights to and from the Gautam Buddha International Airport, which came into operation on May 16, as well as the under-construction Pokhara Regional International Airport and the proposed Nijgadh International Airport. On June 15, 2018, India had agreed to allow new air entry routes to Nepal for international flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) had signed a bilateral agreement on international air route to Nepal back then to allow international flights to enter Nepal through Janakpur and Biratnagar entry points. Prior to this, international flights from India could enter Nepal’s air space only from Simara. Besides, Prime Minister Deuba also proposed a long-term power trade agreement between Nepal and India for mutual interest as both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress in the Arun-III hydropower project, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, both the Prime Ministers stressed on the importance of hydropower for clean energy, with abundant possibilities for collaboration in the hydro-electricity sector between the two countries. Prime Minister Deuba called for investment proposals from companies in India like NHPC to develop the West Seti Hydropower Project. The two prime ministers also agreed to move ahead with priority the Pancheshwar Project, says a press statement issued by the MoFA following the talks. During the meeting, both sides prioritized increasing cooperation in the expansion of connectivity and timely supply of fertilizer and also reviewed the trade agreement. The two leaders also discussed the issue of hydropower production, development of the Buddhist and Ramayan circuits, educational support and collaborating at regional and multilateral forums on issues of mutual interest. Likewise, issues including construction of a dry port, establishing an integrated check post at Chandani Dodhara, and construction of bridge linking Purnagirimai of Uttarakhand of India and Parshudham of Dadeldhura were also discussed. On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba extended gratitude towards PM Modi for India’s support in the post-earthquake reconstruction and during the COVID-19 pandemic.