Nepal, June 1 -- Kimathanka, one of the most remote Himalayan settlements in eastern Nepal, lies in Sankhuwasabha district along the border with China. For decades, the village remained largely beyond the reach of the state. The absence of roads, transport services and basic infrastructure made life extremely difficult for local residents.

That reality is now beginning to change.

A nearly 390-kilometre route linking India and China through Nepal-from the border point of Jogbani in Bihar, India, to Kimathanka on the Chinese frontier-is now connected. The road not only links Nepal's mountains and plains but also lays the groundwork for a potentially transformative economic corridor between South Asia's two largest economies.

The Bhotkhol...