Gadkari said a sea-bridge would help in increasing the trans-SAARC road and transport network. Dhanushkodi is situated south-east of Pamban town and around 29kms away is Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, the town closest to the Indian land border.

A proposal for providing road and rail link bridging the divide across Palk Strait has been submitted to the Asian Development Bank, for a pre-feasibility study and subsequent financing. Currently, the missing link of narrow corridor of about 23 km is serviced through makeshift ferry service transport.

The Indian Minister said that at current estimates, the project would cost them Rs. 23,000 crore. He added that along with the India — Sri Lanka road link, the Indian Government is also looking to connect north-east to Thailand via Myanmar.