AH48

Asian Highway 48
Route information
Length:	90.58 km (56.28 mi)
Existed:	2015 – present
Major junctions
From:	Phuentsholing
	Jaigaon, Birpara, Gairkata, Mainaguri
To:	Changrabandha
Location
Countries:	India, Bhutan, Bangladesh
Highway system
Asian Highway Network

Asian Highway 48 - AH48, colloquially known as SAARC Road, is a work-in-progress route of the Asian Highway Network, running 90.58 kilometres (56.28 mi) from Phuntsholing, Bhutan and its twin town Jaigaon, India, across the border through the Dooars region of West Bengal and ending at Changrabandha near Bangladesh border. It is being undertaken with the goal of boosting ties, trade and tourism between the SAARC countries.^{[1] [2]}

Route

AH48, along with AH2 is part of the SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program (SRCIP). The corridor component of Asian Highway 48 in West Bengal involves part of NH-717, NH 31, NH 31C & NH317 A. The road passes through Jaigaon – Hasimara – Madarihat – Birpara – Gairkata – Dhupguri – Mainaguri(Indira More) – Changrabandha.^[3]

Timeline

For a long time, AH48 was less than a kilometer, from Phuentsholing to Jaigaon.

In February 2008, the Union Cabinet of India approved the required amendments to the existing roads, in order to upgrade them to Asian Highway 48 and Asian Highway 2^[4]

The timeline for Asian Development Bank regarding the project was as follows- Concept Clearance: 16 Dec 2013 Fact-finding: 02 Dec 2013 to 17 Dec 2013 Management Review Meeting: 31 Jan 2014 Approval: 28 Mar 2014 ^[5]

Surveys and felling of trees were started in January 2015.

Funding

The project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank, with the bank giving its approval in March 2014. ADB has approved $500 million for the project, which includes both AH48 and section of AH2.^[6]

Environmental Impact

There were environmental concerns since a two kilometre stretch of the road will be passing through the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.^[7] Thousands of trees along the existing road are being felled down, some several millennia old.

Construction

The contract for the construction was secured by Punj Lloyd. The scope of work includes rehabilitation and upgrading of Bhutan border at Pasakha to Bangladesh border at Changrabandha comprising Jaigaon, Hasimara, Dhupguri section and Mainaguri-Changrabandha section.^[8]

Criticism

As early as 2006, a paper by Equitable Tourism Options said that the SASEC Tourism Development Plan advocates forms of development that is environmentally damaging and economically unsustainable.^[9]

External links

• Project Overview by Asian Development Bank

References

Asian Highway Network
Across the whole continent	AH1 AH2 AH3 AH4 AH5 AH6 AH7 AH8
Southeast Asia	AH11 AH12 AH13 AH14 AH15 AH16 AH18 AH19 AH25 AH26 AH111 AH112 AH123 AH140 AH141 AH142 AH143 AH150
East Asia, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia	AH30 AH31 AH32 AH33 AH34 AH368 AH374
South Asia	AH41 AH42 AH43 AH44 AH45 AH46 AH47 AH48 AH51
North Asia, Central Asia and Southwest Asia	AH60 AH61 AH62 AH63 AH64 AH65 AH66 AH67 AH68 AH70 AH71 AH72 AH75 AH76 AH77 AH78 AH81 AH82 AH83 AH84 AH85 AH86 AH87