Speculations intensified in Nepal regarding Prime Minister Dahal's visit to India

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India has been postponed for the time being. The yatra is said to have been postponed till at least next month. Earlier it was discussed that this yatra would take place this month itself. Quoting officials of the Prime Minister's Office, the newspaper Kathmandu Post reported that India has now told Nepal the new possible date for Dahal's two-day visit. But until a concrete agenda for the visit is decided, both sides have agreed not to announce the date. The visit is expected to take place in the first fortnight of May.

Prime Minister Dahal's Chief Political Advisor Haribol Gujarel told the Kathmandu Post- 'After taking oath of the new foreign minister in Nepal, now the pace of preparations for the Prime Minister's visit to India will speed up. We hope that this visit will happen before mid-May. Nepali Congress leader NP Saud has been appointed as the country's new foreign minister.

The visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India is always an important event from Nepal's point of view. According to sources, several agreements will be signed during Dahal's visit. The work of preparing those agreement documents is progressing. Meanwhile, speculations are rife in Nepali media on the reasons behind Dahal's visit to India being postponed this month. It has been said in some reports that the program of the visit had to be postponed due to non-agreement between the two countries on the agreements proposed to be concluded during the visit of the Prime Minister.

An official aware of the preparations for Dahal's visit to India said that Nepalese officials are in touch with India. They are in talks about the agreements that will be signed during the Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi. One of the agreements proposed is related to the Raxaul-Kathmandu railway line project. A detailed report on the project has been prepared by Indian consultant Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL). Through this 136 km long rail project, a new transport link will be added between the Indian city of Raxaul and Kathmandu.

In view of China's railway projects in Nepal, the Raxaul-Kathmandu rail line construction is being seen as an important initiative. China has started a feasibility study to lay a rail line from Kathmandu to Kerung (located in China). After the completion of this project, the penetration of China in Nepal is likely to increase significantly. That is why many experts are of the opinion that the Raxaul-Kathmandu project is important not only in terms of economic and transport connectivity but also in geopolitical terms.

“We are hopeful that India will build this project under its grant,” an official of Nepal's Ministry of Infrastructure told The Kathmandu Post. It is understood that three other sites will also be connected between India and Nepal during Dahal's visit to India. The proposal to add rail connectivity will be discussed.

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