The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for construction of a bridge over Mahakali River at Dharchula (India)- Dharchula (Nepal).

"An MoU will be signed between India and Nepal to construct a bridge over river Mahakali which will help the people living in Uttarakhand (Dharchula) and in the area under Nepal territory," Union Minister Anurag Thakur told the media after a cabinet briefing.

The signing of MoU will further improve diplomatic relation between the two countries.

An official release said India and Nepal as close neighbours share unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterized by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. Both India and Nepal have been working together on different regional forums such as SAARC, BIMSTEC as well as global fora.

The scheme is expected to help achieve the target of 450 GW installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and contribute to the long-term energy security of the country.

"This scheme will add approximately 10,750 circuit kilometres of transmission lines and approx. 27,500 Mega Volt-Amperes transformation capacity of substations,” Union minister Anurag Thakur told a media briefing.

With central financial assistance at 33% of project cost, the total estimated cost of phase 2 of the project is ₹12,031 crore. Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh will be covered under this phase.

Thakur also informed about the approval of a memorandum of understanding which will be signed between India and Nepal to construct a bridge over River Mahakali. The minister stressed that the bridge will help the people living in Uttarakhand’s Dharchula and in the area under Nepal territory.

Image courtesy: ANI