July 11, 2012
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Japan Extends Grant Assistance for the Construction of Sindhuli Road III |
The Government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant up to four billion, nine hundred and ninety-seven million Japanese Yen (¥4,997,000,000), equivalent to five billion, five hundred and ninety-six million Nepalese Rupees (NRs.5,596,000,000), or approximately sixty-two million, seven hundred and seventy-seven thousand US Dollars (US$62,777,000) to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of two different projects, namely, the Project for Construction of Sindhuli Road Section III and the Project for Countermeasure Construction against the Landslides on Sindhuli Road Section II.
His Excellency Mr. Kunio TAKAHASHI, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Krishna Hari Baskota, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, have signed and exchanged two different set of Notes today on behalf of their respective governments for the implementation of the aforementioned two projects. In the meantime, Mr. Satoshi FUJII, Senior Representative of JICA, and Mr. Lal Shanker Ghimire, Joint Secretary of the Foreign Aid Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance, also signed and exchanged two separate Grant Agreements for the implementation of the said two Projects.
Under the first Notes, the Government of Japan extends a grant up to four billion and ninety-six million Japanese Yen (¥4,096,000,000), equivalent to four billion, five hundred and eighty-seven million Nepalese Rupees (NRs.4,587,000,000), or approximately fifty-one million, four hundred and fifty-eight thousand US Dollars (US$51,458,000) to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Project for Construction of Sindhuli Road Section III.
This Grant will be utilized to procure the products and services necessary for the construction of the remaining segment, about 20km, of the Sindhuli Road, Section III. Once this Section III (Khurkot – Nepalthok section) is completed, the Sindhuli Road will be ready to play the important role of main corridor between the capital city Kathmandu and the Eastern Terai area via Kavrepalanchok, Ramechhap, Sindhuli and Mahottari Districts, reducing travelling distances significantly. In addition, the Kathmandu – Bhaktapur Road, which was completed last year under Japan’s ODA, contributes to this corridor’s connectivity.
Under the second Notes, the Government of Japan extends a grant up to nine hundred and one million Japanese Yen (¥901,000,000), equivalent to one billion and nine million Nepalese Rupees (NRs.1,009,000,000), or approximately eleven million, three hundred and nineteen thousand US Dollars (US$11,319,000) to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Project for Countermeasure Construction against the Landslides on Sindhuli Road Section II.
In this context, Ambassador TAKAHASHI explained that regardless of the efforts of the Department of Roads (DoR) of the Government of Nepal, there are some damaged portions of the Sindhuli Road that require huge inputs to ensure this road remains intact and operational. Among the identified three problematic sites, one site which requires comparatively less input, in terms of technical as well as financial, is expected to be undertaken by the DoR itself in near future. To address the remaining two sites, which requires huge technical and financial inputs, countermeasure construction against the landslides will be undertaken by utilizing the grant being extended today under the second Notes.
On the occasion, Ambassador TAKAHASHI reiterated that the Sindhuli Road is one of the most promising projects being implemented under Japan’s ODA and Japan has been extending grant assistance for the Sindhuli Road and its related project since Japan’s Fiscal Year 1995. These projects are : (i) Project for Construction of Sindhuli Road, (ii) Project for the Operation and Maintenance of the Sindhuli Road, (iii) Project for the Improvement of Community Access, (iv) Project for Building Construction for Khurkot Sub Health Post in Sindhuli District, (v) Project for the Master Plan Study on High Value Agriculture Extension and Promotion in Sindhuli Corridor, and (vi) Project for Improving Livelihood of Farmers through Environmentally Harmonizing Agriculture in the Hilly Areas of Sindhuli District.
Regarding to the recent dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal without promulgating Constitution of New Nepal, Ambassador TAKAHASHI expressed his sincere hope that the political leaders will overcome all differences and find an amicable solution to address the current political stalemate.
As a sincere development partner of Nepal, Japan is committed to continue to provide all possible assistance to Nepal for improving the socio-economic status of Nepalese people. Ambassador TAKAHASHI has also expressed his sincere belief that the Sindhuli Road is a symbol of Japan–Nepal Friendship that will lead to peace and prosperity for a New Nepal. After completion of this road, it will not only serve as a road, but also will serve as a stream of prosperity for Nepal, and a path that will further connect the hearts of the people of Japan and Nepal.
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