Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has declared that Nepal has entered into the shipping era.
Inaugurating the Nepal Ship Office at Ekantakuna on Thursday, PM Oli said that the ships will arrive in Nepal earlier than the trains.
"If vessels can be launched in river Ganga, they will also be brought in Nepal," Oli said, "But the ships do not necessarily have to be large in size, they even don't mean small boats. These ships will be medium-sized."
He said that the size of ships will depend on the size and depth of river.
"Some people have claimed that vessels cannot be operated in some rivers in Nepal owing to the river's lack of depth. The vessels can be made and operated in accordance with the capacity of river," he said, "Wide ships that do not require deep water to float can be also made."
He also claimed that Nepal is no longer a landlocked country.
"The planes were already flying. Now, people can travel around the world on the water without touching the land," he said.
He further said that India has already started preparation of the detailed study report (DPR) on Gandak region to bring ships to Nepal.
"There are also fears that bridges can pose trouble in operating the ships. The technology to lift the bridges has already been developed while the course of river can also be changed," he said, "The bridges will not obstruct bringing ships."
He also announced that students will be sent abroad to study train and ship engineering.
