Thimphu, April 7 (NationPress) - During the 17th Monthly Coordination Meeting held in Thimphu, India and Bhutan engaged in discussions regarding the advancement and future steps of ongoing projects supported by the Indian government in the Himalayan nation.

The meeting, which took place on Monday, was jointly led by the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Thimphu and the Director General of the Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance (DMDF) within Bhutan's Ministry of Finance.

At the meeting, Aniket Govind Mandavgane, the Indian Deputy Chief of Mission, presented cheques totaling Rs 42.3 crore (Bhutanese Nu 423 million) to the Bhutanese Ministry of Finance to support projects under the 13th Five-Year Plan of Bhutan.

As per the Indian Embassy in Thimphu, Rs 16.86 crore (Nu. 168.6 million) was allocated for enhancing infrastructure for the Zhung Dratshang, the Central Monastic Body in Bhutan. This funding aims to cultivate a productive living, learning, and spiritual atmosphere; preserve cultural and spiritual traditions; and ensure the safety and health of monks and nuns.

Moreover, Rs 15.01 crore (Nu. 150.1 million) was set aside for the construction of the Khuru-Kuenphen bridge, a modern, high-standard bridge on Bajo-Khuru SNH, which was inaugurated on March 27.

To boost road transport, Rs 5.44 crore (Nu. 54.4 million) was designated for upgrading 17 km of road to meet Primary National Highway standards, aligning with the full length of the Northern East West Highway (NEWH).

The Indian mission noted that this initiative is anticipated to facilitate swift and efficient movement of all vehicle types, thereby reducing travel time, vehicle operating costs, and risks for commuters.

Additionally, Rs 4.99 crore (Nu 49.9 million) was allocated for the enhancement and development of the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) campus, encompassing hostel renovations, procurement of library resources, computers, and lab accessories, along with establishing partnerships with Indian institutions.

Both nations also reviewed the progress and addressed any implementation challenges related to the Government of India-supported projects under the 13th Five-Year Plan. This included the 'Human Resource Development and Skilling Programmes' executed by the Bhutanese Ministry of Education and Skills Development, which aims to improve productivity and performance within various priority sectors through re-skilling and up-skilling initiatives.

The meeting also examined the status of activities under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), as highlighted by the Indian Embassy.

India has pledged a total of Rs 10,000 crore for the plan period, with consistent disbursements allocated for infrastructure, educational institutions, irrigation, mega farms, and governance projects aimed at reinforcing the enduring bilateral development partnership.