SAARC ministers propose 9 ‘ambitious’ projects to promote South Asian connectivity

Altogether nine sub-regional and regional projects aimed at promoting greater connectivity in South Asia were proposed at the first meeting of the SAARC transport ministers held in New-Delhi Friday.

The projects which have been dubbed ‘ambitious’ include a rail corridor between India’s Chennai and Colombo in Sri Lanka, a road from Agartala (India) to Chittagong (Bangladesh), flights between New Delhi and Islamabad, ferry service between Colombo and Cochin and air connectivity between Male and New Delhi to SAARC member states, according to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

India also suggested linking Birgunj in Nepal, to Katihar in Bihar and Chittagong and Agartala in India’s Tripura state.

"Member states would be examining the viability and desirability of these projects for reporting to the third meeting of the inter-governmental group on transport scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in the second of week of March next year," a statement by the Indian external affairs ministry said.

The meeting also discussed the report of the SAARC Regional Multimodal Transport Study (SRMTS) prepared and funded by the Asian Development Bank and recommended extending the study to include Afghanistan.

The SAARC delegates also examined the preliminary technical inputs provided by the Asian Development Bank and the alternate draft Motor Vehicle Agreement proposed by India. The SAARC Secretariat would prepare the final draft after incorporating views of all member states, IANS reported.

The SAARC Regional Motor Vehicle Agreement, among other things, contains a proposal that citizens of any member country be able to drive through the SAARC countries in their personal cars for personal purposes such as attending a friend's wedding. The visitors would receive three-day visas and they would encounter minimum hassles at border check posts.

India also made a presentation on postal connectivity in South Asia, which was appreciated by other SAARC countries. nepalnews.com ag Sep 01 07