Transnational highway to link India with Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh

October 3, 2016

Archetypal narrow and winding Himalayan roads like this one have been thoroughfares of trade for centuries.

In a move that could boost trade and commerce in the South Asian region, an ambitious project to link these countries through highways has been unveiled by the Indian government which the Manila-based Asian Development Bank has evinced interest to fund.

The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) road initiative has been mooted by the finance ministry to improve ground connectivity in the region and the mandate is to complete the project in the next two years. The government has approved this highway construction and maintenance project, which is worth $ 1 billion, and Asian Development Bank has been roped in to fund the project. Estimates suggest, the project would increase trade in the South Asian region by 60 per cent.

This road project will cover Manipur and West Bengal in the Indian side. The project will include two highways in Manipur, upgradation of 122 km long Siliguri, Mirik, Darjeeling, widening of 60 km long national highway on the border with Bengal and Bangladesh, and construction of 123 km of road outside Koltata worth $ 250 million.

The move follows signing of a landmark motor vehicles deal by the country’s road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, in Thimphu – the capital of Bhutan, last year, which envisaged regulating inter-movement of people, passengers and cargo between the South Asian countries.