September 11: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has assured of the government's commitments to secure Chinese support for the construction of a tunnel connecting Tokha of Kathmandu to Chhahare in Nuwakot.    
In his address at a programme organised by the Nepali Congress, Nuwakot district chapter in Bidur on Saturday, the Finance Minister Mahat said that the project was of highly significance in terms of bilateral trade as it contributes to boost Nepal-China trade relations.    
He added that the government has made up its mind to propose the Chinese side to invest in the project during the upcoming China visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.    
"The Finance Ministry has prioritised agenda of seeking Chinese support in the construction of the Tokha- Chhahare tunnel during the Prime Minister's visit. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 50 billion and in the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 1 billion. We have been preparing to propose China for cooperation to complete the project," he said.    
Nuwakot serves as the shortest distance for travelling along the Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi route, one of the major trade and transit routes between Nepal and China, according to the Finance Minister Mahat who said the project could potentially reduce transportation costs for bilateral trade by up to fifty percent.      
The finance minister also hoped to receive positive response from the Chinese side for the project. -- RSS