India and Sri Lanka could soon finalise an agreement for building a bridge connecting both the countries, Indian Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

Discussions have been held on the issue with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, Gadkari told the Foreign Correspondents Club in New Delhi, IANS reported.

"The project is under consideration, it is under discussion. But nothing has been finalised," Gadkari said.

The Sri Lankan side is also "interested" in the project, he said, adding that even the Asian Development Bank has made a recommendation to that effect.

However, on March 23, Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremasinghe said in Colombo that no formal talks between India and Sri Lanka have started yet on the project.

The issue had figured in Sri Lankan parliament as well.

"The Asian Development Bank 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," Gadkari said last year.

(With inputs from IANS)