Why in news?
A meeting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
(BBIN) on the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement
(MVA) was held recently.
About BBIN MVA
• The BBIN project was conceived when SAARC
at its 18th Summit in Kathmandu failed to sign
a SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement -chiefly
because of Pakistan.
• The sub-regional Motor Vehicle Agreement
(MVA) seeks regulation of passenger,
personnel and cargo vehicular traffic
between the four BBIN countries.

Originally, the project mentioned 30 identified
priority transport connectivity projects with
an estimated cost of over US $8 billion that
will rehabilitate and upgrade remaining
sections of trade and transport corridors in
the BBIN countries.
• India, Nepal and Bangladesh have ratified the
Agreement while Bhutan failed to get its
Parliament’s nod to ratify the same. It has
some reservations about its environmental
impact owing to increased traffic of heavyduty
vehicles.
• Under South Asia Sub-regional Economic
Cooperation (SASEC) programme, Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has been providing
technical, advisory, and financial support to
this initiative.
• On November 1, 2015, a cargo vehicle made
the first successful trial run from Kolkata to
Agartala via Bangladesh that reduced the
distance by over a thousand kilometers.
• In recent meet, the delegations discussed a
draft enabling MOU (memorandum of
understanding) among Bangladesh, India and
Nepal for implementing the BBIN MVA,
without obligation to Bhutan. Bhutan
participated in observer capacity.
Other regional connectivity agreements
• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
o It will connect the seaport of Kolkata with
Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea.
o It will then link Sittwe seaport to Lashio in
Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route and
then from Lashio on to Mizoram in India by
road transport.
• India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
o The highway will link Moreh in Manipur state
(India), via Mandalay city (Myanmar) and to
Mae Sot district (Thailand). (3200 km).

Other regional connectivity agreements
• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
o It will connect the seaport of Kolkata with
Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea.
o It will then link Sittwe seaport to Lashio in
Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route and
then from Lashio on to Mizoram in India by
road transport.
• India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
o The highway will link Moreh in Manipur state
(India), via Mandalay city (Myanmar) and to
Mae Sot district (Thailand). (3200 km).

Indo-Bangladesh Inland Water Transit And
Trade Protocol
o Under this protocol, India will be investing in
creating infrastructure (Port, Road and Rail)
in Ashugonj port (On river Meghna,
Bangladesh) and Akhaura Checkpost
(Agartala), to facilitate the smooth
movement of goods to the NE states.