In a move that is likely to stroke security concerns in New Delhi, China is set to construct a rail road project to Nepal that will almost touch the Indian state of Bihar.    

According to state-owned newspaper Global Times, a rail road project linking Nepal's Rasuwagadhi area to China has already been discussed between officials from the two countries. This ambitious railroad project is expected to be completed by 2020.

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"The railroad connection to China not only is important for Nepal and Nepalese people's future development, but also has the capacity to build connectivity with the whole of South Asia. The government of Nepal has the chance to make history," the newspaper said.

However, Rasuwagadhi area in Nepal is barely 240 km away from the Indian state of Bihar. The distance is too close for New Delhi's comfort. India is already perturbed by China's expanding influence in Nepal with a road and rail network through Tibet.

The Chinese newspaper cited past examples to warn Nepal about external sources trying to sabotage the railroad project. However, the newspaper did not make any direct reference to India.

"Challenge is both internal and external stakeholders' sensitivity about mega infrastructure projects. Unfortunately due to oversensitivity, some major projects were aborted before even a brick was laid. So the Nepali government must play a key role in bringing all the stakeholders into a sufficient consensus," the article said.

The report about the rail road project comes just two months after Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's visit to China. Experts have described the visit as Nepal's final push to reduce dependency on its traditional ally India.    

China has not wasted any time in exploiting Nepal's apparent cynicism towards India as has announced several infrastructural projects and extended financial aid to the latter. The bonhomie between Nepal and China during Oli's visit raised a lot of eyebrows in New Delhi.

New Delhi is highly critical of China's pursuit to increase influence in India's neighborhood through infrastructural projects. India sees this as China's strategy to surround it militarily and economically on all sides.

Tagschina, China and India, Nepal, China and Nepal