Transport

Transportation connects people and markets. More efficient transport reduces shipping time and the cost of moving goods throughout South Asia.

Our work includes improving highways, inland waterways, rail border posts, and ports along key regional corridors as well as related logistics services. We want to help transform transportation corridors into broad economic corridors that bring more economic opportunities, especially to poor and underserved people.

Read the Blog: Four Ways High-Quality Regional Connectivity has Greater Climate Benefits in South Asia

The World Bank works with a number of partners, including the South Asia Regional Trade Facilitation Program and the Program for Asia Connectivity and Trade, to provide analyses and technical assistance to strengthen regional transport links. Some activities are listed below.

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Blog series: Transport in South Asia

What's New

World Bank's $1.03 billion boost to regional trade and connectivity

June 2022: The Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Program will help Bangladesh and Nepal address the key barriers to regional trade and support better connectivity.

Watch the ACCESS Video

Eastern Waterways Grid connects people, products in BBIN subregion

The Eastern Waterways Grid is an economic corridor of rivers and coastal shipping connecting Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Here is how it will benefit over 600 million people in the region.

Eastern Waterways Grid will boost connectivity for 600 million people

July 1, 2021 - The Eastern Waterways Grid is linking inland rivers with roads, rail, and coastal ports to improve connectivity for more than 600 million people in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal.

Read the blog

How valuable is connectivity? In Bangladesh and India, transport links could boost income significantly

May 6, 2021 - Strong cross-border transport links make it easier to import and export goods. The benefits ripple throughout the economy, increasing the income of people near and far.

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#OneSouthAsia Conversation explored BBIN transit

March 10, 2021 - Panelists at an online #OneSouthAsia Conversation agreed that strengthening transport links between Bangladesh and India would cut costs and speed up shipments, benefitting millions on both sides of the border

Watch the video

India takes quantum leap in building new freight corridors

Jan 21, 2021 - Freight trains on India's new Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor will move three times faster and carry bigger loads, reducing India's high logistics costs.

Read the feature story

World Bank signs $105 million project for West Bengal waterway

Jan. 5, 2021 - A new World Bank project will improve infrastructure for Hooghly River freight and passengers and help Kolkata emerge as a transport and logistics hub connecting to the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan.

Read the press release

Meghalaya to improve roads, bridges, and connectivity to BBIN corridor

Nov. 19, 2020 - The World Bank signed a $120 million loan to India's Meghalaya state to improve roads for farmers and rural communities. and to position Meghalaya as a connecting hub for international trade through the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal corridor.

Read the press release

Four ways high-quality regional connectivity is supporting greener transport

Improved connectivity and multimodal transport systems have greater climate benefits, with lesser emissions, and time as compared to road transport. This blog explore four ways in which regional connectivity is supporting greener and more connected OneSouthAsia.

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Publications

Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South Asia

March 9, 2021 - Seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India, according to a new World Bank report.

Read the report

Road Safety in South Asia: Opportunities for Shared Regional Initiatives

Feb 20, 2020 - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal could halve road crash fatalities by investing $118 billion in road safety over the next decade. Such an investment would also bring $1.2 trillion in annual benefits, according to a World Bank report.

Read the report

Moving Forward: Connectivity and Logistics to Sustain Bangladesh's Success

Nov. 13, 2019 - More efficient logistics would help Bangladesh boost exports, create jobs, and maintain its position as a leading ready-made-garment producer. Congested seaports and roads and inadequate infrastructure threaten economic growth.

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The Web of Transport Corridors in South Asia

August 10, 2018 - Transport corridors often generate wider economic benefits. This report offers an appraisal methodology to examine competing proposals and select corridors with the greatest benefits.

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A Glass Half Full: The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia

Sept. 19, 2018 - Potential trade within South Asia has been held back by tariffs and paratariffs, real and perceived nontariff barriers, connectivity costs, and a lack of trust among neighboring countries.

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Competitiveness of South Asia's Container Ports

Oct. 31, 2016 - Better logistics at South Asian ports could increase trade, diversify exports, and attract more foreign direct investment. This report suggests that improvements will need more private sector participation and stronger governance by port officials.

Read the report

VIDEO

Connecting to Thrive

March 24, 2021 - Improving transport between Bangladesh and India would benefit people living on both sides of the border and help Bangladesh become an economic gateway linking South Asia and East Asia. World Bank research finds that seamless transport links would boost national incomes by up to 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India.