Asian highways route amendment gets Cabinet nod

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) The Cabinet today approved amendments to the Asian Highways (AH) route 2 and 48, a step that would help increase trade and tourism with neighbours Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said by extending the AH-48 from Thimpu-Phuentsholing (Bhutan) to Jaigaon border point in India and giving connectivity to AH-2 in India will provide linkage of Asian Highway Route from Bhutan to India as well as Bangladesh and Nepal.

The amendment includes ''Phulbari'' between Banglabandha and Siliguri and defining the route of AH-2 at this location as ''Banglabandha-Phulbari-Siliguri-Kakrbhita.'' The Cabinet nod include providing link to Bhutan by extending route or AH-48 from ''Thimpu-Phuentsholing-Jaigaon-Hasimara-Jalpaigui-Phulbari'' in place of ''Phuentsholing-Border of India' as indicated now and consequently connect with Ah-2 at Phulbari in India, Mr Dasmunsi said.

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