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NEW DELHI: Vehicles originating from Saarc nations carrying passengers and goods and crossing other member countries would be allowed to ply only on "identified routes". Moreover, international permits" would be issued for such vehicles by the originating country.
Top transport officials of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries who met in Udaipur last week have unanimously agreed to this provision and several others keeping in mind security concerns.
A top road transport official who represented India in the two-day meet told TOI that by August, the final draft of motor vehicle norms acceptable to all countries would be prepared and would be sent to the members. "It will be then placed before the Saarc transport ministers' meet and subsequently would be put before the country heads at next the Saarc summit for final adaptation," he added. The summit could take place either at the end of 2013 or the next year.
Before last week's meeting, India had prepared a draft agreement and had sent it to all member nations. "This time we have consensus on the revised draft agreement on all issues including permits, documents that the drivers and passengers should possess while entering another country, determining routes, right of inspection of vehicles and including their fitness," the transport ministry official said.
While norms such as valid visa and passport of passengers and drivers will not change, member countries will decide on the charges for international permits of vehicles. It will be both linked to the distance travelled and vehicle load in the case of cargo vehicles while in the case of passenger vehicles, the fees will be determined on number of passengers and distance travelled.
Sources said every country will follow its customs and excise norms and there will be a negative list of items to be carried by cargo vehicles.
During the 14th Saarc summit in New Delhi in 2007, leaders had directed the inter-governmental group on transport to develop a regional agreement on motor vehicles and one on railways for seamless transport, a move that would push economic activities across the region.
Transport vehicles could be allowed on specific routes across Saarc nations - The Times of India
Top transport officials of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries who met in Udaipur last week have unanimously agreed to this provision and several others keeping in mind security concerns.
A top road transport official who represented India in the two-day meet told TOI that by August, the final draft of motor vehicle norms acceptable to all countries would be prepared and would be sent to the members. "It will be then placed before the Saarc transport ministers' meet and subsequently would be put before the country heads at next the Saarc summit for final adaptation," he added. The summit could take place either at the end of 2013 or the next year.
Before last week's meeting, India had prepared a draft agreement and had sent it to all member nations. "This time we have consensus on the revised draft agreement on all issues including permits, documents that the drivers and passengers should possess while entering another country, determining routes, right of inspection of vehicles and including their fitness," the transport ministry official said.
While norms such as valid visa and passport of passengers and drivers will not change, member countries will decide on the charges for international permits of vehicles. It will be both linked to the distance travelled and vehicle load in the case of cargo vehicles while in the case of passenger vehicles, the fees will be determined on number of passengers and distance travelled.
Sources said every country will follow its customs and excise norms and there will be a negative list of items to be carried by cargo vehicles.
During the 14th Saarc summit in New Delhi in 2007, leaders had directed the inter-governmental group on transport to develop a regional agreement on motor vehicles and one on railways for seamless transport, a move that would push economic activities across the region.
Transport vehicles could be allowed on specific routes across Saarc nations - The Times of India
