India-Nepal oil pipeline project to be completed soon

Updated:7 years, 6 months ago

Birgunj (Nepal), Apr 20 (ANI): Work is at full swing to complete Nepal-India cross border petroleum pipeline project from Motihari to Amlekhgunj.The 69-km pipeline with a capacity of supplying 2 million tons of petroleum products per annum is expected to be completed in another 45 days.The project estimated to cost Rs 4.4 billion will benefit Nepal, especially its trade and business. On the Nepali side, the pipes are being laid along the 36.2 kilometre route from Raxaul, the Indian border to Amlekhgunj via Birgunj Customs. On the Indian side, the pipes are being laid along the 32.7 km route from Motihari in eastern Champaran to Raxaul. India has provided Rs 3.5 billion of the cost and the Government of Nepal has contributed Rs 1.2 billion. The Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline was first proposed in 1996. However, the project edged closer to reality during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kathmandu in 2014. The two countries had inked an agreement to construct the pipeline in August of 2015.