Nepal to build ‘Integrated Check Post’ with assistance from India -

New Delhi: – The work for building an Integrated Check Post was commenced at Nepalganj, near the India-Nepal border, on Friday. India is bearing the cost of building this Integrated Check Post. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepalese Urban Development Minister Krishna Gopal, joined the function virtually. These are indications that the relations between the two countries are normalising.

All the import-export and handling of goods will be done at this Integrated Check Post. The objective of the Integrated Check Post is strengthening regulation of freight movement, taxation and other trade systems. India will be spending ₹1.47 billion for the Integrated Check Post. The facility will be built on 61.5 acres of land and will be completed in two years.

Work has been commenced on a similar Integrated Check Post even in India. The work started in May. 10% work, on the trading post, has already been completed. But the work had not commenced in Nepal for the same. The India-Nepal relations had been strained, following the Nepalese claim on Indian territory and the subsequent publication of the new political map.

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had taken some decisions detrimental to Indian interests. The relations strained further because of these decisions. The increasing Nepalese closeness with China was another cause of concern for India. But now, Nepal seems to be trying to reconcile with India. Nepal has given such indications in the last few decisions.

Recently, Chief of the Indian intelligence agency RAW, Samant Goyal and thereafter Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, visited Nepal. The Nepalese tone seems to have changed entirely after these visits. As per analysts, secretary-level talks can be resumed between the two countries. Against this background, Indian Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla will be soon be visiting Nepal. The commencement of work on the Integrated Check Post, before that, is significant.