India-Myanmar road pact in March to boost economy, says Gadkari

Gadkari said the agreement would promote trade, business, health, education and tourism

India will sign a road agreement with Myanmar and Thailand in March next in an attempt to link the North-East to the two East-Asian countries, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.

"We'll have an agreement on road linkage from the North-East to Myanmar and Thailand in March next year. This will not only bring people of both countries closer, but enhance trade, business, health, education and tourism," Gadkari said at the closing ceremony of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Friendship Motor Rally for regional integration.

"This will not only be a bridge of roads, but it will connect hearts. Frequent transport will automatically help our relations grow deep and strong," Gadkari said.
 

"We are united. We have also had a water agreement with Bangladesh on the Brahmaputra 15-20 days ago. We hope that in days to come, there will be water transport of goods and passengers like the way we have initiated bus service... It will boost economies of both the countries," said Gadkari, who also holds the shipping portfolio.

"We've pledged to develop road projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore in the North-East. I am happy to announce that we've already started road construction projects worth Rs 16,000 crore. We believe it'll benefit the North East in a big way.

Congratulating the rally drivers, Gadkari said: "It's a big achievement for all of us. We'll do a motor agreement for seamless traffic across the four nations."

Referring to Agartala-Kolkata bus service, he said: "Bus service has started from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka... I believe we can build a strong relationship through tourism."

The BBIN rally, comprising 80 participants in 20 Toyota SUVs, was flagged off in Bhubaneswar on November 14, which made its way through Ranchi, Patna, Siliguri, Thimphu in Bhutan, Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh before culminating in Kolkata late last night.

The first-of-its-kind rally was organised by the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Motors Sports Club, in association with the Union Ministry of Road Transport.