kathmandu – A groundbreaking ceremony was organized today for the construction of an India funded motorable bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula (Nepal). The ceremony was held jointly by both sides.

In Darchula (Nepal), Hon’ble Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Mr Dilendra Prasad Badu, laid the foundation stone for the project. Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission, was present at the occasion. In Dharchula (India), Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, laid the foundation stone for the project.

The project will augment cross-border connectivity between the Sudurpaschim province of Nepal and the Uttarakhand state of India where close people-to-people links exist between communities on both sides of the border across the Mahakali river. This is in line with the commitment of both the governments to strengthen cross-border connectivity for encouraging commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

This project will be executed by Uttarakhand Public Works Department with an estimated cost of INR 33 crores. The construction of the 110 m long bridge is expected to be completed in one year.