KATHMANDU, June 8: Chief Minister of Sikkim, India, Prem Singh Tamang has shown interest in opening the Chewa Bhanjyang border crossing between Nepal and India. He visited Chewa Bhanjyang on Tuesday and said that his government is trying to open the border to benefit India and Nepal.
Chief Minister Tamang said, "I have been trying to figure out how to benefit from the Chewabhanjyang border crossing. I have repeatedly raised this issue in the NITI Aayog meeting."
Chief Minister Tamang said that discussions are underway with the central government of India to open a border crossing at Chewabhanjang. "The central government is positive about this," he said.
Hopes for Korala border crossing opening remain unfulfilled
With the aim of developing the border to Chewabhanjang, the Sikkim state government has expanded a 22 km road from Uttare Bajar to Chewabhanjang by spending INR 560 million.
The Pushpalal (mid-hill) highway from Nepal has already reached Chewabhanjang a decade ago. The origin point of the said highway is also Chewabhanjayang.
The Sikkim state government has also taken the initiative to open the Chewabhanjyang border crossing in Yangwarak rural municipality-1 of Panchthar while the citizens of this area including Yangwarak rural municipality are demanding to open the border crossing. Although the construction of the highway from Nepal to Chewabhanjyang started two years ago, it has not been completed due to the negligence of the builders.
Chief Minister Tamang, who reached Chewabhanjang for the inauguration of the forest guest house, said that there is a plan to make the road extended from Sikkim to Chewabhanjang a multi-purpose corridor. Mentioning that the road will be made into two lanes after the construction of the Chewabhanjang international border, Chief Minister Tamang said that they have a golden opportunity.
"With the opening of this border, India will benefit the population of 4.5 million people of Nepal", he said, "We will communicate with the government of Nepal through the federal government on this issue."
Chief Minister Tamang said that it is necessary to open this border legally. He emphasized that Chewabhanjayang should be made a bilateral contact point between Sikkim and Nepal given the close people to people relation.
