Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) finalized the text for the protocol for the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement to ensure smooth transport between the BBIN countries. The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement aims to improve intraregional trade and connectivity for passengers, cargo, and vehicular traffic by removing barriers and regulations.

The agreement, when it enters into force, will allow for the seamless movement of vehicles for faster and economical transport of people and exchange of goods.

A pilot project will be conducted under the agreement and will include trial runs through the Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Sunauli-Lucknow-Kanpur-New Delhi and Kathmandu-Birgunj-Raxaul-Kolkata routes between Nepal and India, according to the Asian Development Bank. A trial route is also proposed between Nepal, India, and Bangladesh through Kathmandu–Kakarvitta–Panitanki–Siliguri-Phulbari–Banglabandha–Mongla/Chattogram.

Trial runs were conducted in 2015 and 2016 to help finalize the protocol. The protocol will support the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, which was signed on 15 June 2015.

A customs subgroup will be set up under the protocol to regulate the entry and exit of motor vehicles.

The Asian Highway that is being built with the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be vital in the implementation of the motor vehicles agreement. ADB is helping develop road infrastructure projects as well as border facilities along the BBIN routes.

• BBIN motor vehicle agreement protocol ready