The new government in Nepal will soon approach the Indian establishment to start bus services between Kolkata and Kathmandu. Not only will this promote tourism, it will also forge closer ties between the countries, said Durgesh Man Singh, the Nepali ambassador to India. Singh, who is presently in Kolkata, said he would soon start a dialogue with Indian authorities on this issue.

According to Singh, there are many tourists, who are keen on visiting Nepal, but can’t afford flight tickets. The bus service by the Nepal Tourism Board would be aimed at them.

The diplomat said that buses were already plying between Kolkata and Dhaka and was mostly availed by Bangladeshis seeking medical treatment in Kolkata. Nepali nationals could come here for treatment as well.

The ambassador said he would soon request the Indian government for help to improve the quality of technical education in Nepal. Singh said he would be writing to the authorities of IITs and IIMs for setting up technical and management institutes in Nepal.

Singh met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. He also met state finance minister Asim Dasgupta, an old friend.

During his meeting with the CM and chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb, Singh requested the state government to improve roads between Kakarbhitta and Fulbari on the Indo-Bangla border as trucks to Bangladesh from Nepal ply along this road. “The road is in bad shape and transporters complain to us.”