Mizoram seeks road linking Myanmar

Encouraged by the new high in Indo-Myanmar relations, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has demanded highways linking neighbouring countries. The Mizoram Chief Minister called on Union Minister Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T. R. Balu to discuss several infrastructure projects in the State. The Chief Minister requested TR Balu to declare a new national highway of about 180 km in the State connecting Keitum on NH 54 and Zokhawthar Trade Center at Myanmar border to provide shorter trade route to southern parts of Mizoram. He also requested to consider the construction of 117 km road connecting Myanmar border and Nalkawn on NH 54 which lies entirely in Mizoram.

The Union Minister informed the Chief Minister that the Annual Plan programme of Rs 120 crore has been drawn for Mizoram and the same has already been sent to the State Government for sanctioning of works of national highways during 2008-09.

The Minister also informed him that sanctions for works under various plans/schemes aggregating to Rs 78 crore were issued by the Ministry during 2007-08.

Both India and Mynamar signed the Rs 535.91 crore multi-modal transit transport project at Sittwe Port linking Kaladan river to Myanmar, which India will use for improving access to the North-Eastern states.

The money will also be used for construction of a road from Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) to the India-Myanmar border.”The project will provide an access to Mizoram and to other North-Eastern states as well as an outlet to the sea,” an official statement had said.

The deal was signed last night during the visit of Vice Senior General Maung Aye to New Delhi and , is aimed at cutting transport time between the India’s mainland and remote North East. It will also give India a foothold on the Myanmar city of Sittwe, on an island near the mouth of the Kaladan river, which will become the onshore hub of Myanmar’s gas industry once vast reserves in the Shwe fields in the Bay of Bengal are developed.

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