Kathmandu: Speaking at a program organized by Nepal-India Friendship Association on the occasion of the 55th Republic day of India, Ambassador to Nepal Mr. Shyam Saran said that Nepal has been the “best” neighbor to India since times immemorial.

He said Nepal could immensely benefit from the economic progress achieved by India in the recent past, as Nepal is our closest neighbor. And said the opposite also holds true as peace and development in Nepal also affects India.

Indian envoy disclosed that India has accepted the proposal made by the Nepalese Government to construct 1,000 Kms. of road along the Terai region of Nepal.

He also said that in the near future all the four checkpoints in the Nepal-India border would be updated as the people now are facing unnecessary problems due to the lack of good infrastructure. He said this would also help to check cross border terrorism.

He also said that Indian government is willing to link Nepalese cities with the broad gaze railway lines existing in India, which, according to Ambassador Saran, will further enhance the economic ties between the two countries.

The Indian Ambassador however, did not utter even a single word about Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Nevertheless, his talking of peace in Nepal does hint that now India wishes to ensure peace in this beleaguered Kingdom.

The chairman of the Nepal-India friendship Association Mr. Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya also spoke on the occasion.