ABSTRACT
The idea of developing regional road and rail links in Asia was initiated by the then Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) dating back to the 1950s. This article traces the history of development of these Asian road and rail links, which are now known as the Asian Highway (AH) and Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) networks. These two networks have considerably improved transport connectivity in Asia and supported the development of Euro-Asia transport linkages. Empirical studies suggest that such networks offer great potential to generate overland trade and economic development especially in deep inland areas. However, several studies also suggest that such networks may have unintended adverse socio-political impacts on local people living in deep inland border areas. Mitigation measures are required to address such adverse impacts. This chapter also provides an account of the progress of development of the AH and TAR networks, their current states of development, challenges and prospects for further development, and finally some conclusions.
