"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to fully finance a bridge-building project connecting Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. The project was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart during the latter's recent visit," Mr. Gadkari said in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha, according to a PTI report.

Gadkari has discussed the construction of a sea bridge and the tunnel linking the 22-km stretch between Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi in India with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, during latter's visit to New Delhi in September.

The India-Sri Lanka connectivity project is estimated to cost about US$ 3.6 billion (24,000 crore Indian rupees).

He informed Lok Sabha that a pact has been inked with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for seamless flow of traffic and passenger vehicles.

"The government, right from the day it assumed office, has been focused on enhancing regional cooperation. Subsequent to Modi's announcement of 'Act East policy', India proactively engaged in building effective and credible links between South Asia and Southeast Asia through enhanced regional connectivity," he said.