New BIMSTEC Connectivity Plan to Ensure Seamless Movement of Goods and People
13 December 2019
A new Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) connectivity master plan has been drafted. The master plan adds new features from a related study, which identifies 166 projects estimated at $45 billion–$50 billion across BIMSTEC partner nations.
The new draft master plan aims to ensure seamless movement of goods and people, improve transport interconnectivity, and promote cultural exchange to benefit all involved parties. Through BIMSTEC, its member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in South Asia and Myanmar and Thailand in Southeast Asia) work together to promote regional development and commerce.
BIMSTEC Secretary General M. Shahidul Islam, who was in Tripura, India, to attend the Engineers Conference of India on 13 December 2019, said BIMSTEC will be holding a working group meeting in New Delhi to finalize the connectivity master plan and chart the connectivity area.
The BIMSTEC connectivity master plan talks about connecting multilateral projects, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the East-West Corridor. The plan aims to improve connectivity within the BIMSTEC region, as well as connect India to the east coast of Viet Nam. The plan also aims to examine the economic viability of planned roads.
Northeast India will be playing a key role in the master plan, according to Mr. Islam. Among the major India-Bangladesh connectivity projects in Tripura are the Feni bridge, the Agartala-Akhaura rail route, and the inland waterways port at Sonamura in Sipahijala district. A number of planned routes will pass India’s northeast region, such as the road from Dawki-Tamabil Indo-Bangla border at Meghalaya that will connect to continental countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. One route to pass through Bangladesh and India will have Agartala city as a crucial junction. In addition, Bangladesh and Tripura, India, have many prospects for tourism and trade.
The master plan also discusses inland waterways connectivity, which will give Nepal and Bhutan easy access to the Bay of Bengal. It also has provisions for economic activities and digital connectivity. Mr. Islam said bilateral connectivity are the building blocks of BIMSTEC connectivity and will be included in the master plan.
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