Kathmandu– Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday inaugurated Nepal Shipping Office, located in Ekantakuna, Lalitpur.
The office was established following a taskforce headed by joint secretary of the planning division of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies recommended for setting up office and begin the tasks.
The cabinet has already approved a 16 member staffs for the new office that is under Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Earlier, on May 17, 2016, PM Oli on behalf of government had wished to open new transit points for shipping of cargo and to operate a harbour after acquiring it.
Speaking after the inauguration at the programme organised by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prime Minister Oli said that the establishment of the office has opened the door for further study and exploration on developing inland waterways in the country.
Stating that Nepal was not a fully landlocked country as there was possibility of inland waterways in many rivers in the country, he expressed the belief that waterway transportation would come into operation earlier than railway service.
The Prime Minister also suggested engineers to manufacture ships as per the depth and width of rivers. Referring to the feasibility study for operation of ship conducted way back in 1970, the Prime Minister shared information that he had discussed about the possibility of operation of ship and Kathmandu-Raxaul railway service during his India visit last year.
Prime Minister Oli said that a new dimension has been added to the ‘connectivity’ with India, adding that we are now going to be linked with India through inland waterways and railways.
Also speaking at the function, Minster for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Raghubir Mahaseth, said that operating a ship flying Nepal’s flag would be a matter of great pride for the country.
Likewise, Secretary at the Ministry, Madhusudan Adhikari, said that the Ministry was active to begin and expand inland waterway and railway service while Joint-Secretary at the Ministry, Gopal Prasad Sigdel, said that inland waterway service would be cheaper than air and road service. (With inputs from RSS)
