India-lanka road link project in the offing

The Centre is in advanced talks with the Asian Development Bank for funding `22,000 crore for an ambitious road project to connect India with Sri lanka through a combination of a sea-bridge and underwater tunnel.Minister for Road Transport Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said that he has met with ADB’s senior management for funding the project and a verbal agreement has been reached

“I have had meeting with the Vice President Asian Development Bank who has agreed to fund the project. If all goes as planned, we should be in a position to start work by early next year,” said Gadkari, who was speaking at the National Conference on Highway Equipment.“National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation which will be the authority for the overseeing the project implementation has already invited bids internationally for preparation of detailed project reports for the sea links. Following submissions, we will study the reports and then go in for bidding processes,” he said.  

Gadkari said that as planned, the road connectivity, built across Palk Strait, will be a combination of a sea-bridge and underwater tunnel. The underwater tunnel will also allow movement of ships through it.The distance between Dhanushkodi in Rameswaram and the Sri lankan boundary is about 23 kms. 

“A sea-bridge would help in increasing the trans-SAARC road and transport network,” said Gadkari. 

Dhanushkodi is situated south-east of Pamban town and around 29kms away is Talaimannar in Sri lanka, the town closest to the Indian land Border. “A proposal for providing road and rail link bridging the divide across Palk Strait has been submitted to the Asian Development Bank for a pre-feasibility study and subsequent financing,” said an official from the Ministry of roads, highways and transport. 

Currently, the missing link of narrow corridor of about 23 kms is serviced through makeshift ferry service transport. Gadkari also said all the on-going and planned development work in the road and shipping sectors worth Rs 6 lakh crore would create jobs for at least 50 lakh people across the country in the coming years.

Besides overhauling these sectors, the Government has been trying to improve connectivity with neighbouring nations on high priority basis, he said. last month, the Minister signed pacts with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for seamless flow of traffic.