India pushes SASEC's road project

In order to fast track the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) road connectivity program, India is pulling out all stops to expedite the mega project especially in the backdrop of China‘s ambitious ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative connecting around 60 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe. As part of this strategy, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), India, recently approved a Rs.1,630 crore road project for upgradation and widening of the 65 km road stretch between Imphal in Manipur and Moreh in Myanmar. Once completed, the project being developed with Asian Development Bank’s loan assistance will not only help India connect with its neighboring countries but also play an important role in the Great Asian Highway. The Asian Highway network is also referred to as the Great Asian Highway, and is a 1,41,000-km road network connecting 32 Asian countries being developed under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The SASEC program focuses on road infrastructure to improve regional connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and India (BBIN). The Imphal-Moreh project corridor is also a part of Asian Highway-1 and will also strengthen India’s position at the global level as India attempting to connect with its neighbors and fulfilling its commitments made at the international level, said a senior Indian government official.