Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepal counterpart Sushil Koirala jointly flagged off Nepal-India friendship passenger bus service which will run on daily basis between Kathmandu and New Delhi from today on wards.

Mr. Modi said that the bus service will be another link between the two countries for the comfort of their people. The Prime Minister also presented a Dhruv helicopter to Nepal at Kathmandu.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi today inaugurated a trauma centre in Nepal. The eight-storey National Trauma Centre at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital, has a capacity of 200 beds. Mr Modi who is in Kathmandu to attend the two-day SAARC Summit beginning tomorrow, termed the trauma centre as an example of live relations between India and Nepal.

He said, India is always ready to save human lives in Nepal. The Prime Minister said, it is an honour for India that it can save lives of Nepalese people. Mr Modi said, New Delhi will help Kathmandu develop its infrastructure and technology. He announced that a thousand megawatt power plant will be started soon, adding that it will help brighten up Nepal. .

Prior to his departure for Kathmandu, Mr Modi said that development of close relations with India’s neighbours is a key priority for his government. India has always emphasized the importance of greater regional integration at all levels for the socio-economic development of the South Asian region, he said.

Stating that New Delhi has undertaken several socio-economic developmental initiatives on bilateral, sub-regional and regional basis, he promised to continue to do more. Mr. Modi expressed hope that the SAARC Summit will lead to concrete outcomes, particularly on enhancing connectivity that have been under discussion for a long time.

He said he is looking forward to holding bilateral discussions with other South Asian Heads of State and Government on the margins of the Summit.