Nepal and India signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) on the presence of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Hydrabad House on Tuesday.

Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Sharat Singh Bhandari and Indian Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna singed the MoU regarding the expansion of air service, on the behalf of their countries, respectively.

As per the agreement, there will be as many as 35,000 seats in a week for passengers against 6,000 seats getting Nepal at present. Likewise, the flights will be made from 7 places of Nepal and 17 places of India.

Similarly, Nepalese Ambassador to India Rukma Shumsher Rana and Indian secretary at the external ministry affairs Nirupama Rao signed on the agreements on expansion of the railway service in Nepali points along the Indo-Nepal border, establishment of a Polytechnic Institute in Hetaunda and construction of Nepal-India friendship assembly hall in Birgunj.

Similarly, the Indian government has agreed to provide grant assistance worth Rs. 10.88 billion for the expansion of railway service in five places along Nepal-India border.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the assistance was signed in the presence of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh here today.

According to the MoU, the railway service would be expanded from Jogbani to Biratnagar, Rupediya to Nepalgunj, Newslapaigudi to Kakadbhitta, Nautanwa to Bhairahawa and Jayanagar Bijulpur to Bardiya.

India has also agreed to provide assistance worth Rs. 350 millions for the establishment of Polytechnic Institute in Hetauda.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav was given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.

Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcome him.

On the occasion, a contingent of the Indian Army gave 21-gun salute. National anthem tunes of both the countries were played during the ceremony.

Central ministers and top government officials of India and Nepal’s Tourism Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari were present on the occasion.

Dr. Yadav is on a four-day official visit, his first trip to any foreign country since the country was declared republic in May 2008.

Likewise, in honour of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh hosted a luncheon at Hydrabad House this afternoon.

On the occasion, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarat Singh Bhandari, Nepalis ambassador to India Rukma Shumsher Rana and other member of the visiting team were present.

Similarly, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee, Minister for External Affairs S.M Krishna, Commerce Minister Ananda Sharma and other Indian top-level government officials were present.

Similarly, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday visited Rajghat and paid tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.

After paying tribute, Dr. Yadav signed on the visitors’ book and observed
the quotations of Gandhi’s mahabani. A statue of Gandhi was presented to Dr. Yadav. Indian State Minister for External Affairs Praneet Kaur welcomed Dr. Yadav in Rajghat.

Similarly, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said that Nepal and India has historical and traditional relations, and the objective of his India visit is to enhance the mutual relations between the two countries.

President Dr. Yadav made this remark while responding a query put forth by an Indian journalist about the former’s expectation from such visit after a special function organised in Rastrapati Bhavan today in honour of President Dr. Yadav.

Meanwhile, Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari paid a courtesy call on President Dr Rambaran Yadav at Hotel Taj Palace here today.

Also today, Indian Minister for External Affairs, SM Krishna, Minister for Finance Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram called on the President separately.

During the meeting, matters relating to strengthening of democracy and drafting of the new Constitution in Nepal, matters of mutual interest were discussed.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sharat Singh Bhandari, Nepali Ambassador to India, Rukma Shumsher Rana and Foreign Ministry officials were present during the meetings.

Likewise, Congress President and UPA Chief, Sonia Gandhi paid a courtesy call on President Dr Rambaran Yadav.

Indian Minister for Commerce, Anand Sharma and Indian National Congress Leader Dr Karan Singh were present on the occasion.

During the meeting that lasted for around 40 minutes, matters relating to Nepal-India relations, bilateral interest and the ongoing peace process and drafting of the new Constitution in Nepal were discussed.