Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Dr Danielle Meuwly (left) and Urban Minister Sita Gurung. (Photo: Gurung's Secretariat)
Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Dr Danielle Meuwly has paid a courtesy call on Minister for Urban Development Sita Gurung.
Held at the Ministry of Urban Development in Singha Durbar on Monday, the two leaders in the meeting dwelled on the longstanding partnership and collaboration between Switzerland and Nepal, especially on trail bridges.
Speaking at the meeting with Ambassador Meuwly, Minister for Urban Development Gurung thanked the Swiss government for extending assistance in the construction of trail bridges in Nepal. In the meeting, they also discussed implementing the projects -- Laliguras Trail in Tehrathum, Mundhum Trail (Khotang-Bhojpur-Sankhuwasabha), Phalgunanda Trail in Panchthar, and Ilam Tea Garden in Ilam -- following the endorsement by the Council of Ministers.
"Urban Minister Gurung thanked the Swiss government for its assistance in the construction of trail bridges in Nepal. The two leaders in the meeting also discussed expediting the projects -- Laliguras Trail in Tehrathum, Mundhum (Khotang-Bhojpur-Sankhuwasabha), Phalgunanda Trail in Panchthar, and Ilam Tea Garden in Ilam," said a press note issued by the Minister's Secretariat.
Under the Udaya Project, Mundhum Trail begins from Khotang, passes through Bhojpur and ends in Sankhuwasabha while Laligurans Trail stretches from Tumlingtar in Sankhuwasabha till Tehrathum. Falgunanda Trail starts from Phidim passes through Lubrekuti, Silauti, Pauwabhanjyang, Sandakpur, Bahrapokhari and ends in Ilam. A total of a 400km long trail will be constructed at the cost of Rs 2.5 billion under the trail bridge roject.
Besides, the construction of trails, the Nepal government has also planned to build Team Garden project in Ilam, the eastern hilly district of Nepal, with the financial aid from the Swiss government.
Posting a message on X, formally known as Twitter, Ambassador Meuwly said that she had a constructive meeting which was focused on the bilateral long-standing cooperation and partnership including the construction of trail bridges.
The Ministry of Urban Development in collaboration with the Department of Local Infrastructures (DLI) had organized a two-day photo exhibition to mark the completion of the construction of over 10,000 bridges at Jawalakhel in Lalitpur on November 11.
Minister for Urban Development Gurung, Secretary Saraju Kumar Baidya and Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Dr Danielle Meuwly, Director General of DLI, among others were present in the exhibition.
In the Fiscal Year 2079/80, as many as 744 trail bridges have been constructed against the target of 730 trail bridges set by the government.
