India to build sea bridge, tunnel to connect Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore: Nitin Gadkari

[Gibbs]

not everything is to be measured in immediate economic benefit. Some actions result in a tremendous soft power projection which will also promote brotherhood and friendly exchanges.

better connectivity
economic opportunities to tap the north SL region
South India is a manufacturing economy - it trades and exports to other countries - a seamless connectivity to Another country reduces transport costs and timelines.
enhances embedding of SL Into India's economic sphere which will help increased co=operation and co-existence.

In terms of benefits for SL - they can utilize the connectivity to India to increase exports and tap into Indian market in a huge way
Be the manufacturing regional hub for agri based products to feed into TN's industrial manufacturing base
get a manifold increase from India's tourists - specially from the IT hub regions. the number of people driving to SL just because its possible (do you know how many people from USA drive on the key west drive just for the sheer experience)
I presume this can open opportunities for SL people to work on the South Indian IT hubs - this will be an enormous win win for both India and SL

The ground situation is not conducive yet for such physical connectivity.. There will be a major opposition by the people if the GOSL agrees to this.. Problems will far outway the benefits as it stands

Well its your friend china who is given this loan so you should be glad to use it

ADB is not Chinese funded bank, And as i mentioned no Sri Lankan official has either agreed or envisaged this plan, All the noise is emanating from India

 

[tsinga]

No Sri Lankan politician, the Government or any authority has mentioned or agreed to any of this crap, Most likely they never would.. The only noise coming from is from some bloke called Gadkhari in India

I think Gadkari (Transport Minister) is pushing for this project. Either ways ADB is willing to finance it.

In any case, a proper cost-benefit calculation will be worked out before anything proceeds. It must make or bring economic benefits to both India and Lanka for them to agree to building it.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Money can be better spend elsewhere like Clean coal tech or solving the urban waste problem

Clean coal tech would be necessary whether this project is a go or not, so is waste management, these will be different monies from this ADB project.

No Sri Lankan politician, the Government or any authority has mentioned or agreed to any of this crap, Most likely they never would.. The only noise coming from is from some bloke called Gadkhari in India

Assuming the project is a go, how long will this bridge or tunnel be?

 

[Sliver]

The ground situation is not conducive yet for such physical connectivity.. There will be a major opposition by the people if the GOSL agrees to this.. Problems will far outway the benefits as it stands



ADB is not Chinese funded bank, And as i mentioned no Sri Lankan official has either agreed or envisaged this plan, All the noise is emanating from India

the bold part is not entirely correct. The current SL head - Mr.wickremasinghe (pardon my spelling - if its wrong) - did have a lot of interest in his previous term towards land connectivity to India. It was reported by "the Island" news paper from SL.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate in a number of other areas with immediate priority on agriculture, power and the IT industry. Both sides also agreed to work on commissioning a feasibility study on a land bridge between the two countries keeping in mind the spirit of the closest of historical, cultural and social ties that have bound the two nations over millennia.

from supli1

 

[Echo_419]

Clean coal tech would be necessary whether this project is a go or not, so is waste management, these will be different monies from this ADB project.



Assuming the project is a go, how long will this bridge or tunnel be?

Then use this money in Roads,railways or waterways.We don't conduct to much trade with SL anyways so such a project will hardly benefit us

The ground situation is not conducive yet for such physical connectivity.. There will be a major opposition by the people if the GOSL agrees to this.. Problems will far outway the benefits as it stands



ADB is not Chinese funded bank, And as i mentioned no Sri Lankan official has either agreed or envisaged this plan, All the noise is emanating from India

I agree with you we could use this money in better services

This loan by China is NOT available for anything else

They are willing to fund this White Elephant. I hope the interest rate is as low as 0.5% to make it attractive



Well its your friend china who is given this loan so you should be glad to use it

ADB is not Chinese

 

[Gibbs]

the bold part is not entirely correct. The current SL head - Mr.wickremasinghe (pardon my spelling - if its wrong) - did have a lot of interest in his previous term towards land connectivity to India. It was reported by "the Island" news paper from SL.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate in a number of other areas with immediate priority on agriculture, power and the IT industry. Both sides also agreed to work on commissioning a feasibility study on a land bridge between the two countries keeping in mind the spirit of the closest of historical, cultural and social ties that have bound the two nations over millennia.

from supli1

In 2002, More than a decade ago.. The ground situation now both political and security wise is entirely different, Unless until the Central Govt of India has major control over it's southern polity no Lankan govt will agree to any physical connectivity

Anyway there as it's stands the status quo in bilateral relationship is strong and does not need any immediate changes, Highly doubt this is feasible mutually, No Lankan govt would want to face the fall out from the public if they agree to such a thing

Assuming the project is a go, how long will this bridge or tunnel be?

Even in a very unlikely event they would agree it will be a massive project taking decades with massive environmental impact in a very sensitive ecological area

 

[supereffect]

NEW DELHI: Keen on promoting connectivity in the South Asian region, India is set to build a sea-bridge and tunnel connecting Sri Lanka while a pact has been inked with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for seamless flow of traffic and passenger vehicles, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.

"The Asian Development Bank is ready to fully finance a bridge building project connecting Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. The project was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart during the latter's recent visit," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha.

The India-Sri Lanka connectivity project cost is pegged at about Rs 24,000 crore.

Read more at:
India to build sea bridge, tunnel to connect Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore: Nitin Gadkari - The Economic Times

LANKA DAHAN

 

[Sliver]

@Gibbs the bridge with India is more a balancing act rather than a balance tilting act. With the China funded port getting a go ahead, Wickremesinghe needs to balance it with connectivity with India. And by voting for Wickremesinghe, the majority population has already picked his politics over the previous regime and hence your argument that "there will be a backlash" is at most - debatable.

Lets put it this way - It looks like you have an issue with the connectivity - what is your issue with building of the bridge?

Please see this connectivity in the context of BBIN connectivity going on with India's sub-SAARC grouping. There will be a final connectivity through road from SL to wagah border (and in future if there are more connections opened between Pak and India, those as well) and it will pave way for land connectivity of SL with rest of the Asian Hinterland.

 

[raktaka]

My bad, it seems ADB is controlled by US and Japan.

India should use this loan to upgrade our coastal infrastructure massively. Built deep sea ports and water way links. Maybe even a connecting service using the U2 Aircraft's from Japan.

Why the fcuk should India pay for cheaper and easier connectivity to Sri Lanka with no apparent benefit ?

 

[rational]

@Gibbs the bridge with India is more a balancing act rather than a balance tilting act. With the China funded port getting a go ahead, Wickremesinghe needs to balance it with connectivity with India. And by voting for Wickremesinghe, the majority population has already picked his politics over the previous regime and hence your argument that "there will be a backlash" is at most - debatable.

Lets put it this way - It looks like you have an issue with the connectivity - what is your issue with building of the bridge?

Please see this connectivity in the context of BBIN connectivity going on with India's sub-SAARC grouping. There will be a final connectivity through road from SL to wagah border (and in future if there are more connections opened between Pak and India, those as well) and it will pave way for land connectivity of SL with rest of the Asian Hinterland.

He is typical anti Indian ,I really hope this project go through

My bad, it seems ADB is controlled by US and Japan.

India should use this loan to upgrade our coastal infrastructure massively. Built deep sea ports and water way links. Maybe even a connecting service using the U2 Aircraft's from Japan.

Why the fcuk should India pay for cheaper and easier connectivity to Sri Lanka with no apparent benefit ?

How do you come to conclusion that their are no long term benefits ,Indian government is no fool they surely know what they are doing ,nobody take on such large scale project without analysing risk & benefit

 

[Gibbs]

@Gibbs the bridge with India is more a balancing act rather than a balance tilting act. With the China funded port getting a go ahead, Wickremesinghe needs to balance it with connectivity with India. And by voting for Wickremesinghe, the majority population has already picked his politics over the previous regime and hence your argument that "there will be a backlash" is at most - debatable.

Lets put it this way - It looks like you have an issue with the connectivity - what is your issue with building of the bridge?

Please see this connectivity in the context of BBIN connectivity going on with India's sub-SAARC grouping. There will be a final connectivity through road from SL to wagah border (and in future if there are more connections opened between Pak and India, those as well) and it will pave way for land connectivity of SL with rest of the Asian Hinterland.

You're assuming a lot of things.. The coalition govt was voted in essentially to get rid of the Rajapaksa regime, Not actually on foreign policy matters especially on those perceived as detrimental to territorial integrity, I speak with the knowledge of the ground situation you on assumptions, The same PM many analysts in India assumed to be pro Indian also said this

Indian fishermen will be shot if they intrude into Sri Lankan waters: Ranil Wickramasinghe | Zee News

You're naive to believe that in national politics, Policies remain static, What he said in 2002 is completely invalid now

As long as politics of attrition remains strong in Tamil Nadu regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka no government will commit political suicide by agreeing to such a imposition

Did you ever wonder this claim by the Indian transport minister have been circulation in the media now for nearly six months, Without a single murmur from the Lankan side.. Ever wondered why ?

Btw this is not the first thread even on PDF on the same subject

Nitin Gadkari, Sri Lankan PM discuss $5.19 billion India-Lanka road project, underwater tunnel!!

 

[Riyad]

Who built this bridge?

 

[raktaka]

How do you come to conclusion that their are no long term benefits ,Indian government is no fool they surely know what they are doing ,nobody take on such large scale project without analysing risk & benefit

Do you know how to READ english and then understand what you have Read ?

How does "no apparent benefit" translate too "No long term benefit" ?

If you see the benefit you are free to spell it out for all of us

What is the economic, social, cultural, defence or religious benefit of this bridge ?

Nobody has yet taken on such a project so far, its all just talk. First show me the Risk & Benefit you are talking about.

 

[rational]

Do you know how to READ english and then understand what you have Read ?

How does "no apparent benefit" translate too "No long term benefit" ?

If you see the benefit you are free to spell it out for all of us

What is the economic, social, cultural, defence or religious benefit of this bridge ?

Nobody has yet taken on such a project so far, its all just talk. First show me the Risk & Benefit you are talking about.

Its funny when keyboard warrior think they know better than GOI ,lets wait & see what happen in future

 

[Sliver]

Do you know how to READ english and then understand what you have Read ?

How does "no apparent benefit" translate too "No long term benefit" ?

If you see the benefit you are free to spell it out for all of us

What is the economic, social, cultural, defence or religious benefit of this bridge ?

Nobody has yet taken on such a project so far, its all just talk. First show me the Risk & Benefit you are talking about.

I spelt out the "apparent" benefits already. And India at its present context needs to see non-economic benefit as well - mainly counter balance the influence of Chinese power on SL, Integration of SL economy with Indian economy for future co-existence and mutual prosperity, also SL has been a pretty robust economy in itself which can help the South Indian states to take advantage of (it will be mutually beneficial to both SL and India).

Why would India not take advantage of its proximity to other nations is really a puzzle. This should have been done a long time back.