12.11.14

Of Seamless Road travel across SAARC....

Barely weeks before the SAARC summit in Nepal, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has pushed the proposal of an umbrella agreement among all nations in the region for seamless movement of passengers and cargo across borders. Gadkari, who is in Kathmandu, said that the proposed SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement will be a path-breaking endeavour. A government release said the agreement is expected to be signed during the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister to Kathmandu.
Already the technical committee comprising members from all nations have agreed to the draft agreement. The road transport ministry has also circulated a cabinet proposal so that the item can be placed in SAARC agenda.
Meanwhile, Nepal and India are set to sign bilateral agreement on the proposed daily bus service on three identified routes. Recently an Indian delegation was in Nepal to take forward this plan. Both sides had agreed on adopting the proposed SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement. This agreement would facilitate Nepal-India bus services on reciprocal basis. In addition to the regular bus service, the proposed agreement provides for movement of private vehicles and non-regular passenger vehicles across the border. Such private and non-regular passenger vehicles would be entitled to use all established entry and exit points in the agreed upon framework envisaged under the draft agreement.

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