Nepal PM Balendra Shah likely to visit India in November-end; what's on agenda

Nepal prime minister Balendra Shah is expected to visit India in the third or fourth week of November, with both countries preparing for talks on major infrastructure projects and longstanding disputes, including the boundary issue, air routes and trade.The three-day visit, which would be Shah’s first official bilateral trip abroad since taking office in March, is expected to focus on strengthening ties between Kathmandu and New Delhi. However, the dates have not been finalised, a high-level diplomatic source told the Kathmandu Post.Shah is expected to remain in New Delhi, where he will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet other senior ministers. The two sides are also expected to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding.PM Modi had invited Balen Shah to visit India at a mutually convenient time soon after he was sworn in.Shah’s only overseas trip so far was to New York in September to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.Nepal foreign minister Shisir Khanal, who attended the same session, had said after returning to Nepal that the visit would take place at an appropriate time. He stressed that both governments wanted it to be “fruitful and result-oriented”.Infrastructure projects and new agreementsPreparations for the visit have already moved forward, with Nepal and India exchanging lists of projects that could be inaugurated during Shah’s trip, according to two senior Nepali foreign ministry officials.Projects being considered include the Nepal Police Academy in Panauti, Kavrepalanchok, a bridge in Darchula, the integrated check post in Bhairahawa and a motorable bridge over the Mahakali River.The two prime ministers are also expected to jointly mark the start of construction on the integrated check post at Dodhara Chandani, the Lower Arun hydropower project and a petroleum pipeline connecting Siliguri in India with Jhapa in Nepal.Major hydropower projects could feature prominently in the discussions, as most bilateral mechanisms have already held their meetings. These include the 750MW West Seti, the 480MW Phukot Karnali and the 450MW Seti River-6 projects, all of which involve India’s state-owned NHPC.Other proposals expected to be discussed include a project on the Koshi River, the Ayodhya-Janakpur railway link and Indian assistance for Nepal’s plans to develop its artificial intelligence sector.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.