Transport Ministers of eight SAARC countries met here today to mull plans for a multi-mode transport network and boost intra-regional trade.
New Delhi, Aug 31 : Transport Ministers of eight SAARC countries met here today to mull plans for a multi-mode transport network and boost intra-regional trade.
Earlier, senior officials of SAARC countries shaped a 'status paper', which will be tabled at the meeting to get the final nod for building railroads, roads, inland waterways, maritime and aviation to connect member countries - - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Transport Ministers are likely to discuss ways to clear barriers, which have been identified in the paper.
The idea to link the member countries through a multi-mode transport corridor project was proposed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
According to the study by the Transport and Communication Secretaries of eight SAARC countries, suggestions have been given for building a 6,540 kilometres of railroad and 11,844 kilometres of road network.
They have also recommended setting up of ten ports, two inland waterways, sixteen airports, ten regional roads and five rail corridors.
Other key recommendations, include a transport network to connect Nepal, Bhutan and northeastern region of India to facilitate short transport and transit links, construction of a 2,000-kilometer highway from Lahore and Agartala, passing through Delhi, Kolkata and Dhaka.
The first road corridor, identified for upgrading, is the 2,453-km-long highway from Lahore to Agartala passing through Delhi, Kolkata and Dhaka.
India, however, has been trying to include road projects that link Myanmar through Bangladesh and Afghanistan via Pakistan.
It is the first ministerial-level meeting since the last SAARC Summit held in New Delhi in April.
At the last SAARC Summit, the heads of SAARC countries recognised the importance of connectivity in fulfilling the objectives. They agreed to improve intra-regional connectivity, particularly physical, economic and people-to-people connectivity.
They also agreed to the vision of a South Asian community which would have a smooth flow of goods, services, people, technology, knowledge, capital, culture and ideas.
ANI