India will sign a road agreement with Myanmar and Thailand in March in an attempt to link the North-East to the two East-Asian countries, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. He said that this will not only bring people of both countries closer, but also enhance trade, business, health, education and tourism.

Gadkari said that the plan is to develop road projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore in the North-East. Road construction projects worth Rs 16,000 crore have commenced and will benefit the North East in a big way, he added. The road transport and highways minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Friendship Motor Rally for regional integration.

Gadkari, who also heads the shipping ministry, said that India has also signed a water agreement with Bangladesh on the Brahmaputra river recently. "We hope that in days to come, there will be water transport of goods and passengers like the way we have initiated bus service. It will boost economies of both the countries,” he said.