Page 31 - Power and Ifrastructure-Final
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Movement of vehicles along cross-border corridors is crucial for enhancing connectivity to improve linkages among neighboring countries for increased cross-border trade, tourism and investment. Four geographically contiguous countries inked the Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal on 15 June 2015. In the process of making the Agreement operational, contracting parties to the Agreement are now finalizing protocols for implementation of the Agreement. This Agreement is also expected to induce investment in transport infrastructure and trade facilitation measures.
Asian Highway Network
The Asian Highway project was conceived by UN-ESCAFE (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Far East) in 1959 with the aim of establishing regional cooperation among the main land countries of Asia, based on road transport linkages. It consists of three pillars: The Asian Highway (AH), the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR), and the Facilitation of land transport projects through intermodal transport terminals (dry ports and inland ports). The Asian Highway follows framework for internationally agreed routes and infrastructural standards. The Asian Highway network currently comprises about 144,630 kilometre of roads, including 15,400 kilometre of potential Asian Highway routes in China, passing through 32 Asian member States with linkages to Europe (UNESCAP 2014).
The Bangladesh Cabinet approved the accession of Bangladesh in Asian Highway Network in 2009 and the Agreement entered into force later that year. In Bangladesh, there are three Asian Highway Routes namely, Asian Highway-1 (AH1), Asian Highway-2 (AH2) and Asian Highway-41 (AH41). Of these three routes, AH41 remains within Bangladesh, but could be extended to neighbouring countries. Total length of the AH routes in Bangladesh is 1771 kilometre.
In Bangladesh, the AH will enter from two directions. One of them will enter at Benapole from Kolkata and will reach Dhaka via Jessore and Bangabandhu Bridge. Another will enter Bangladesh at Bangabandhu from Kathmandu via India and will reach Dhaka via Dinajpur, Bogra and Bangabandhu Bridge. From Dhaka, the AH will again enter India via Sylhet - Tamabil route.
The AH will provide Bangladesh a new opportunity for increased trade within the Asian sub region as well as with the member countries of AH. Bangladesh will also earn foreign currencies by providing transit facilities to the neighbouring and other member countries, as it is becoming a gateway between the South and East Asia. As a result, if the project of AH is implemented then it could bring revolutions to the live of poor as well as it will open up a new horizon in the development
   Asian Highway (source - Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges)
SAARC Highway Corridor
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and geopolitical union of eight member nations namely, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. SAARC countries are committed to enhance regional cooperation among the countries to
   Power and Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth
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