As part of its policy to enhance connectivity with its select South Asian neighbours, especially those on its eastern/northeastern flank, the Indian Cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding for building a motorable bridge over the Mahakali river that forms the India-Nepal border in the north, connecting Dharchula in India to Darchula in Nepal. 

“The construction of the bridge will help people living in Dharchula in Uttarakhand and in the territory of Nepal," India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday. The MoU, he added, will be signed in the near future and it will improve diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

People in the border towns—spelled as Dharchula in India, and Darchula in Nepal—share a common culture, language, and social customs and regularly cross the border. Western Nepal, where the Nepali town lies, is one of the most backward and least developed areas in the country. 

People from the Nepali side regularly cross over to India’s Uttrakhand in search of jobs and work. And, Indians from Dharchula often search for brides in the Nepali sides. A suspension bridge is currently in use but it is not suitable for heavy and big vehicles. 

Economically, the Nepali people in the west are heavily dependant on India, with most of its consumer goods coming from the Indian side. With this new bridge, the local economy is expected to get a boost. 

Furthermore, the tourism potential in western Nepal still remains underutilized, mainly due to the lack of transport infrastructure. Lately, the Nepali government has built a couple of roads to improve its connectivity with the central part of the country. However, the new cross-border bridge will enhance the tourism potential in the region. 

(SAM)