ESCAP is the regional development arm of the United Nations and serves as the main economic and social development centre for the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific. Its mandate is to foster cooperation between its 53 members and 9 associate members. ESCAP provides the strategic link between global and country-level programmes and issues. It supports Governments of the region in consolidating regional positions and advocates regional approaches to meeting the region’s unique socio-economic challenges in a globalizing world. The ESCAP office is located in Bangkok, Thailand. Please visit our website at www.unescap.org for further information. The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Priority Investment Needs for the Development of the Asian Highway Network United Nations New York, 2006 ST/ESCAP/2424 This publication was prepared under the direction of the Transport and Tourism Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Inputs related to priority investment needs and projects were provided by national experts and representatives of member countries at three subregional expert group meetings. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication has been issued without formal editing. ii CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 I. STATUS OF THE ASIAN HIGHWAY NETWORK .................................................................. 5 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 5 B. Overall status of the Asian Highway Network ........................................................................ 5 C. Status of the Asian Highway Network by subregion .............................................................. 10 II. PRIORITY INVESTMENT NEEDS ............................................................................................ 25 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 25 B. Assessment of ongoing investment .......................................................................................... 25 C. Regional cooperation programmes ........................................................................................... 27 D. Priority investment needs ......................................................................................................... 28 E. Prioritization of investment needs............................................................................................ 34 III. INTERMODAL CONNECTIVITY AND THE ASIAN HIGHWAY NETWORK ................. 35 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 35 B. Initiatives for improving connectivity and intermodal facilities ............................................. 37 IV. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................. 39 ANNEX PROFILES OF PRIORITY PROJECTS ALONG THE ASIAN HIGHWAY A. Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................................ 41 B. Armenia ............................................................................................................................................. 43 C. Azerbaijan .......................................................................................................................................... 47 D. Bangladesh ......................................................................................................................................... 49 E. Bhutan ................................................................................................................................................ 55 F. Cambodia ........................................................................................................................................... 57 G. China .................................................................................................................................................. 70 H. Georgia............................................................................................................................................... 74 I. India ................................................................................................................................................... 76 J. Indonesia ............................................................................................................................................ 80 K. Islamic Republic of Iran.................................................................................................................... 81 L. Kazakhstan ......................................................................................................................................... 86 M. Kyrgyzstan ......................................................................................................................................... 89 N. Lao People’s Democratic Republic................................................................................................... 96 O. Mongolia ............................................................................................................................................ 99 P. Myanmar ............................................................................................................................................ 106 Q. Nepal .................................................................................................................................................. 109 R. Philippines ......................................................................................................................................... 111 S. Sri Lanka ........................................................................................................................................... 121 T .T ajikistan............................................................................................................................................ 122 U. Turkey ................................................................................................................................................ 125 V. Viet Nam ............................................................................................................................................ 126 iii LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Asian Highway classification and design standards ........................................................................ 6 2. Status of the Asian Highway in member States ............................................................................... 7 3. Status of the Asian Highway network by subregion........................................................................ 8 4. Status of the Asian Highway routes in South Asia .......................................................................... 11 5. Sections of the Asian Highway carrying the heaviest traffic .......................................................... 13 6. Status of the Asian Highway routes in Central and South-West Asia ............................................ 14 7. Traffic along the Asian Highway in Central and South-West Asia ................................................. 17 8. Classification of the Asian Highway in South-East Asia ................................................................ 18 9. Asian Highway links carrying the highest traffic volumes ............................................................. 20 10. Status of the Asian Highway routes in North-East Asia.................................................................. 21 11. Asian Highway sections carrying the highest traffic volumes ........................................................ 24 12. Current investment in the Asian Highway network ......................................................................... 25 13. Selected large ongoing or committed projects along the Asian Highway ...................................... 26 14. Identified priority projects for developing the Asian Highway in the South Asian, Central and South-West Asian, South-East Asian and North-East Asian subregions ..................... 29 15. Asian Highway intermodal connections to the major ports ............................................................ 36 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Part of the Asian Highway network ................................................................................................. 1 2. Asian Highway network .................................................................................................................... 2 3. Examples of Asian Highway sections requiring investment............................................................ 3 4. Overall status of the Asian Highway ................................................................................................ 8 5. Asian Highway classes by subregion