- Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to visit India on November 23 to discuss bilateral cooperation and infrastructure development.
- The agenda likely features railway connectivity, border infrastructure, and hydropower projects including West Seti and Seti River-6.
- Discussions may also cover trade facilitation and potential Indian support for reconstruction following the Bhotekoshi floods.
- Although preparations are advancing, official dates and finalized agreements remain subject to ongoing consultations between Kathmandu and New Delhi.
Connectivity, hydropower, trade and flood reconstruction likely to feature in discussions, but no agreements have been confirmed
Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to visit India from November 23, with preparations under way for his arrival in New Delhi, according to high-level diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposed visit is expected to focus on railway connectivity, hydropower development, trade, border infrastructure and reconstruction following the Bhotekoshi floods. However, the dates have yet to be formally confirmed by either government, and the details of the agenda remain under discussion.
A senior diplomatic source said preparations were progressing towards the proposed visit, but final decisions on the schedule and the issues to be taken up would depend on consultations between Kathmandu and New Delhi.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on October 9 that preparations were under way but that the date had not been finalised. Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said the visit would take place at a time convenient to both countries. The ministry has not publicly confirmed November 23 as the final date.
Railway and border connectivity
Railway connectivity is expected to be among the key issues in the discussions. The proposed Raxaul–Kathmandu broad-gauge railway could be raised as both countries seek to improve transport links and facilitate the movement of goods and passengers.
The proposed passenger rail service between Janakpur and Ayodhya may also feature in the talks. The service could improve travel for pilgrims and support religious tourism between the two countries. However, no official announcement has confirmed when the service might begin operating or whether a new agreement will be reached during the visit.
Other infrastructure issues that could be discussed include the Dodhara-Chandani Integrated Check Post, a motorable bridge over the Mahakali River and the Bhairahawa Integrated Check Post.
For Nepal, improving border infrastructure is important for trade and transit. Better facilities could reduce delays in the movement of goods, but the benefits will depend on investment, construction and effective coordination between the two governments.
It remains unclear whether the proposed visit will result in specific commitments on these projects.
Hydropower projects await further decisions
Energy cooperation is another likely area of discussion, particularly the West Seti and Seti River-6 hydropower projects involving India’s state-owned NHPC.
NHPC lists West Seti at 800 megawatts and Seti River-6 at 460 megawatts. The projects are still subject to outstanding development, technical and financial arrangements, according to the company’s published project information.
For Nepal, the main issues include investment, project implementation and arrangements for selling the electricity generated. India’s involvement could help attract investment and strengthen cross-border energy trade, but the projects’ progress will depend on the terms agreed by the parties concerned.
Diplomatic discussions could help move these issues forward. However, there is no official confirmation that final agreements on either project will be signed during Shah’s visit.
Flood reconstruction may be raised
The reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the Bhotekoshi floods could also be discussed, according to sources familiar with preparations for the visit.
Nepal may seek Indian support for reconstruction, but the form and amount of any assistance remain unclear. Neither government has announced a special assistance package or confirmed that a funding agreement is being prepared for signature.
For Nepal, the immediate concern is to restore damaged infrastructure and meet the costs of reconstruction. Any Indian assistance would need to be assessed against the scale of the damage and the government’s wider reconstruction plans.
The possibility of discussing support should not be taken as confirmation that a financial commitment will follow.
Earlier talks provide context
The proposed visit follows Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle’s meetings with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Their discussions covered economic cooperation, energy and connectivity.
The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest ahead of the proposed prime ministerial visit. However, there has been no official confirmation that the discussions produced agreements to be signed during Shah’s trip.
India extended an official invitation to Shah after the formation of his government, and preparations for the visit have continued since then, according to government officials.
Shah attended the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. The proposed India trip would therefore be his first official bilateral foreign visit as prime minister, although not his first overseas trip.
Final schedule and outcomes remain uncertain
The proposed visit comes as Nepal and India continue discussions on trade, energy, transport and infrastructure. It could provide an opportunity for both sides to review existing projects and agree on the next steps.
For Nepal, the key question is whether the discussions will lead to clear decisions on projects that have been under consideration for years. Railway links require technical and financial arrangements, while hydropower projects need investment agreements and other approvals before implementation can proceed.
The same applies to reconstruction assistance. Discussions may help identify areas for cooperation, but any commitment will need to be confirmed by the governments.
The final itinerary, the schedule for Shah’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and details of any agreements have yet to be announced.
For now, November 23 remains the expected date based on diplomatic sources. The visit’s final schedule and the outcome of the talks will become clearer once both governments issue formal announcements.
