early beneficiaries of the Asian Highway project are the planners within the national land transport department of the participating countries [since] it assists them in planning the most cost-effective and efficient routes to promote domestic and international trade. Non-coastal areas, [1] which are often negligible, are the other beneficiaries.
However, in the mid-2000s some transportation experts were sceptical about the viability of the project given the economic and political climate in both South and South-East Asia.[1]
History
The AH project was initiated by the United Nations in 1959 with the aim of promoting the development of international road transport in the region. During the first phase of the project (19601970) considerable progress was achieved, however, progress slowed down when financial assistance was suspended in 1975. ESCAP has conducted several projects in cooperation with AH member countries step by step after the endorsement of ALTID in 1992. The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network (IGA) was adopted on November 18, 2003, by the Intergovernmental Meeting; the IGA includes Annex I, which identifies 55 AH routes among 32 member countries totalling approximately 140,000km (87,500 miles), and Annex II "Classification and Design Standards". During the 60th session of the ESCAP Commission at Shanghai, China, in April 2004, the IGA treaty was signed by 23 countries. By 2007, 28 countries were signatories, which subsequently rose to 32 countries in 2008.[1]
Implications
India is hopeful that the mega project will continue to bring it and Pakistan closer, as a furtherance of the earlier resumption of bus and train services between the two countries after decades of hostilities.[1] The advanced highway network would provide for greater trade and social interactions between Asian countries, including personal contacts, project capitalizations, connections of major container terminals with transportation points, and promotion of tourism via the new roadways.[1] However, rights groups in Southeast Asia monitoring the North-South Corridor segment were concerned with the remote area's rapid development resulting in significant increases to exposure of HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and the possible exploitation of the surrounding forests and wildlife resources.[2]
Asian Highway Network In addition to reaping less economic benefits, Laos will also likely have to deal with disproportionate social and environmental costs, people monitoring the project say. Without proper control mechanisms in place, the region's opening would disproportionately benefit government-connected business groups while displacing large numbers of the non-ethnic Lao groups currently living in the area.[2] A 2002 ADB report estimated that approximately 2,500 people (500 households) might have to be relocated due to the road project; some monitoring groups put the real number much higher. Although resettlement plans were drafted by the ADB to compensate for the loss of houses, land, rice granaries and shops, it was not clear that the funds were truly reaching the people most affected.[2] Among the issues involved was the resettlement of the original Lao inhabitants of Boten village near the Chinese border, who were moved a kilometer or more down the road to allow the construction of a new Chinese-owned casino, hotel and other commercial developments. The resettled Botens complained that their new site lacked services, and that the land set aside for them was smaller and less fertile than their original land.[2] As well, others complained about rampant land grabs adjacent to the new road by government-connected traders and businessmen who established shops and other businesses on the new prime real estate. A lack of formal land deeds or proper court systems meant there was little justice available to the displaced residents.[2] The legal vacuum also allowed an increasing flow of Chinese migrants, many of whom first arrived to work on the road and who then stayed on to establish businesses along the road, including whole new villages, which further aggravated those previously resettled to less fertile land.[2] Rights groups were also concerned with the remote area's rapid development resulting in increases to exposure of HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and the possible exploitation of the surrounding forests and wildlife resources.[2] While the ADB's original hopes that the route would reduce transportation costs for the movement of vehicles, goods and people, and also promote faster economic growth, as the 7,300km North-South Corridor neared completion in 2008 the real costs and benefits of the project for the local populations of Southeast Asia were still in doubt.[1] [2]
Routes
Route AH1 is proposed to extend from Tokyo to the border with Bulgaria west of Istanbul and Edirne, passing through both Koreas, China and other countries in Southeast, Central and South Asia. The corridor is expected to improve trade links between East Asian countries, India and Russia. To complete the route, existing roads will be upgraded and new roads constructed to link the network. US$ 25 billion has been spent or committed as of 2007, with additional US$ 18 billion needed for upgrades and improvements to 26,000km of highway.[3]
Route log
Single-digit routes run across the whole continent: AH1, 20,557km (12,848 miles); Tokyo, Japan to border between Turkey and Bulgaria (with AH5) AH2, 13,177km (8326 miles); Denpasar, Indonesia to Khosravi, Iran AH3, 7,331km (4582 miles); Ulan-Ude, Russia (on AH6) to Tanggu, China; and Shanghai, China (on AH5) to Chiang Rai, Thailand and Kyaing Tong, Myanmar (both on AH2) AH4, 6,024km (3765 miles); Novosibirsk, Russia (on AH6) to Yarantai, Mongolia; and Urumqi, China (on AH5) to Karachi, Pakistan (on AH7) AH5, 10,380km (6488 miles); Shanghai, China (on AH3) to border between Turkey and Bulgaria (with AH1) AH6, 10,475km (6547 miles); Busan, South Korea (the start of Jungang-no Road) to border between Russia and Belarus AH7, 5,868km (3667.5 miles); Yekaterinburg, Russia to Karachi, Pakistan (on AH4) AH8, 4,718km (2949 miles); border between Russia and Finland to Bandar Emam, Iran 10-29 and 100-299 are assigned to South-East Asia: AH11, 1,588km (992.5 miles); Vientiane, Laos (on AH12) to Sihanoukville, Cambodia AH12, 1,195km (747 miles); Nateuy, Laos (on AH3) to Hin Kong, Thailand (on AH1) AH13, 730km (456 miles); Oudomxai, Laos (on AH12) to Nakhon Sawan, Thailand (on AH1/AH2)
Asian Highway Network AH14, 2,077km (1298 miles); Hai Phong, Vietnam to Mandalay, Myanmar (on AH1/AH2) AH15, 566km (354 miles); Vinh, Vietnam (on AH1) to Udon Thani, Thailand (on AH12) AH16, 1,032km (645 miles); Dong Ha, Vietnam (on AH1) to Tak, Thailand (on AH1/AH2) AH18, 1,042km (651 miles); Hat Yai, Thailand (on AH2) to Johor Bahru Causeway, Malaysia AH19, 459km (287 miles); Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (on AH12) to Bangkok, Thailand (on AH2) AH25, 2,549km (1593 miles); Banda Aceh, Indonesia to Merak, Indonesia (on AH2) AH26, 3,517km (2198 miles); Laoag, Philippines to Zamboanga, Philippines
30-39 and 300-399 are assigned to East Asia and North-East Asia: AH30, 2,739km (1712 miles); Ussuriysk, Russia (on AH6) to Chita, Russia (on AH6) AH31, 1,595km (997 miles); Belogorsk, Russia (on AH30) to Dalian, China AH32, 3,748km (2342.5 miles); Sonbong, North Korea (on AH6) to Khovd, Mongolia (on AH4) AH33, 575km (359 miles); Harbin, China (on AH6/AH31) to Tongjiang, China AH34, 1,033km (646 miles); Lianyungang, China to Xi'an, China (on AH5)
40-59 and 400-599 are assigned to South Asia: AH41, 948km (592.5 miles); border between Myanmar and Bangladesh to Mongla, Bangladesh AH42, 3,754km (2346 miles); Lanzhou, China (on AH5) to Barhi, India (on AH1) AH43, 3,024km (1892 miles); Agra, India (on AH1) to Matara, Sri Lanka AH44, 107km (67 miles); Dambulla, Sri Lanka (on AH43) to Trinconmalee, Sri Lanka AH45, 2,030km (1269 miles); Kolkata, India (on AH1) to Bangalore, India (on AH43/AH47) AH46, 1,513km (946 miles); Kharagpur, India (on AH45) to Dhule, India (on AH47) AH47, 1286 miles (2,057km); Gwalior, India (on AH43) to Bangalore, India (on AH43/AH45) AH48, 1km (.625 miles); Phuentsholing, Bhutan to border between Bhutan and India AH51, 862km (539 miles); Peshawar, Pakistan (on AH1) to Quetta, Pakistan (on AH2/AH7)
60-89 and 600-899 are assigned to North Asia, Central Asia and South-West Asia: AH60, 2,151km (1344 miles); Omsk, Russia (on AH6) to Burubaital, Kazakhstan (on AH7) AH61, 4,158km (2599 miles); Kashi, China (on AH4/AH65) to border between Russia and Ukraine AH62, 2,722km (1701 miles); Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan (on AH6/AH64) to Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan (on AH76) AH63, 2,434km (1521 miles); Samara, Russia (on AH6) to Guzar, Uzbekistan (on AH62) AH64, 1,666km (1041 miles); Barnaul, Russia (on AH4) to Petropavlovsk, Russia (on AH6/AH62) AH65, 1,250km (781 miles); Kashi, China (on AH4/AH61) to Termez, Uzbekistan (on AH62) AH66, 995km (622 miles); border between China and Tajikistan to Dushanbe, Tajikistan AH67, 2,288km (1430 miles); Kuitun, China (on AH5) to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (on AH62) AH68, 278km (174 miles); Jinghe, China (on AH5) to Ucharal, Kazakhstan (on AH60) AH70, 4,832km (3020 miles); border between Ukraine and Russia to Bandar Abbas, Iran AH71, 426km (266 miles); Dilaram, Afghanistan (on AH1) to Dashtak, Iran (on AH75) AH72, 1,147km (717 miles); Tehran, Iran (on AH1/AH2/AH8) to Bushehr, Iran AH75, 1,871km (1169 miles); Tejen, Turkmenistan (on AH5) to Chabahar, Iran AH76, 986km (616 miles); Polekhumri, Afghanistan (on AH7) to Herat, Afghanistan (on AH1/AH77) AH77, 1,298km (811 miles); Djbulsarcj, Afghanistan (on AH7) to Mary, Turkmenistan (on AH5) AH78, 1,076km (672.5 miles); Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (on AH5) to Kerman, Iran (on AH2) AH81, 1,143km (714 miles); Larsi, Georgia to Aktau, Kazakhstan (on AH70) AH82, 1,261km (788 miles); border between Russia and Georgia to Iveoqlu, Iran (on AH1) AH83, 172km (107.5 miles); Kazakh, Azerbaijan (on AH5) to Yerevan, Armenia (on AH81/AH82) AH84, 1,188km (742.5 miles); Doubeyazt, Turkey (on AH1) to el, Turkey AH85, 338km (211 miles); Refahiye, Turkey (on AH1) to Merzifon, Turkey (on AH5)
Asian Highway Network AH86, 247km (154 miles); Askale, Turkey (on AH1) to Trabzon, Turkey (on AH5) AH87, 606km (378.75 miles); Ankara, Turkey (on AH1) to zmir, Turkey
Distance by country
The planned network runs a total of 87,799 miles (140,479km). Afghanistan, 4,247km Armenia, 958km Azerbaijan, 1,442km (901.25 miles) Bangladesh, 1,804km (1127.5 miles) Bhutan, 1km (0.625 miles) Cambodia, 1,339km (837 miles) China, 25,579km (15,978 miles) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 1,320km (825 miles) Georgia, 1,154km (721.25 miles) India, 11,432km (7,145 miles) Indonesia, 3,989km (2,493 miles) Islamic Republic of Iran, 11,152km (6,970 miles) Japan, 1,200km (750 miles) Kazakhstan, 13,189km Kyrgyzstan, 1,695km (1,059 miles) Lao PDR, 2,297km (1,436 miles) Malaysia, 1,595km (997 miles) Mongolia, 4,286km (2,678.75 miles) Myanmar, 3,003km (1,877 miles) Nepal, 1,321km (826.6 miles) Pakistan, 5,377km (3,360.6 miles) Philippines, 3,517km (2,198.1 miles) Republic of Korea, 907km (566.9 miles) Russian Federation, 16,869km (10,543.1 miles) Singapore, 19km (11.9 miles) Sri Lanka, 650km (406.25 miles) Tajikistan, 1,925km (1203.1 miles) Thailand, 5,112km (3195 miles) Turkey, 5,254km (3,283.75 miles) Turkmenistan, 2,204km (1,377.5 miles) Uzbekistan, 2,966km (1,853.75 miles) Vietnam, 2,678km (1,673.75 miles)
References
[1] Kamat, Rahul The Great Asian Highway (http:/ / www. projectsmonitor. com/ detailnews. asp?newsid=8609), Project Monitor website, 31 January 2005. Retrieved 2009-05-05 [2] McCartan, Brian Roadblocks on the Great Asian Highway (http:/ / www. atimes. com/ atimes/ Southeast_Asia/ JA23Ae01. html), Asia Times website, 23 January 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-05; [3] "Priority Investment Needs for the Development for the Asian Highway Network" (http:/ / www. unescap. org/ ttdw/ common/ tis/ ah/ priority_investment. asp#profiles), accessed July 14, 2007 [4] Newswire (http:/ / www. geog. nau. edu/ igust/ China2005/ other. html), Tourism Commission of the International Geographical Union website. Retrieved 2009-05-05; [5] Letter 2007-07-09 Janette Green, Director Brand Communications, Aston Martin, Gaydon CV35 0DB, England [6] Letter 2007-18-10 Barry Cable, Director Transport & Tourism Division, United Nations ESCAP (Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific), Bangkok 10200, Thailand. [7] (2008) Driven Together Published by Mercury Books on behalf of Word Go Ltd. Page vi (ISBN 9780954143244) [8] Tracking and map log (http:/ / www. driventogether. co. uk/ ) Letter and data 2007-28-09 Dr Sebastian Archer, Solutions ARchitect, EurowatchCEntral Ltd, London EC4Y 0HB. [9] Driven Together (http:/ / www. driventogether. co. uk/ ) - Outside Back Cover. [10] Aston Martin on the Asia-Pacific Highway (http:/ / www. autoracing. com/ blog/ aston-martin-on-the-asia-pacific-highway) AutoRacing.com, 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [11] Driven Together (http:/ / www. driventogether. co. uk/ ) - Various [12] Reuters Aston Martin drivers set Asian Highway record (http:/ / www. nzherald. co. nz/ section/ 9/ story. cfm?c_id=9& objectid=10457885) NZ Herald, 2007-15-08. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [13] Wilkinson, Stephen Hammer Down on Asia's Interstate Highways (http:/ / www. concierge. com/ cntraveler/ blogs/ perrinpost/ 2007/ 08/ hammer-down-on-. html) Concierge.com, 2007-23-08. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [14] British Pair Drive Aston Martin into the Record Books (http:/ / www. astonmartin. com/ thecompany/ news?a=697f47fc-938c-4d54-acf8-d4f0106aec9b) Aston Martin, 2007-14-08. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [15] Milton Keynes Citizen 2007-13-09 "Aston adventurer safely home" Page 26 [16] MK News 2007-12-09 "Records shattered on drive home from Japan" Page 22 [17] Record-Breaking Aston Martin to be Sold (http:/ / www. bonhams. com/ cgi-bin/ public. sh/ pubweb/ publicSite. r?sContinent=EUR& screen=lotdetailsNoFlash& iSaleItemNo=3738707& iSaleNo=15348& iSaleSectionNo=2) Bonhams, 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [18] 103-year-old Rolls Royce sells for a record 3.5m at auction (http:/ / www. dailymail. co. uk/ news/ article-499443/ 103-year-old-Rolls-Royce-sells-record-3-5m-auction. html) Mail Online, 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2010-01-01 [19] Milton Keynes Citizen 2008-11-03 "Aston adventure" Page 2
External links
The project homepage (http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/index.asp?MenuName=AsianHighway) Asia signs up to 'new Silk Road' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3660467.stm) BBC News report (April 26, 2004) UNESCAP press release announcing treaty (http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2004/apr/g09.asp) 2003 Asian Highway Handbook (http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/pub_2303/Full version.pdf) (PDF) Pakistan's Gwadar to Afghanistan, China road declared Asian Highway (http://pakistantimes.net/ top030210601.htm) Driven Together, Historic first crossing of Asia's new Highway to the West (http://www.driventogether.co.uk/ )
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License
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