The construction of the cross-border road between Mizoram’s Lawngtlai town and Myanmar’s Sittwe port under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) is nearing completion.
This was informed by Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Zoramthanga, who also holds the Public Work Department (PWD) portfolio, said that the construction of the 87.18 km long road in Mizoram side under the bilateral project between India and Myanmar began in October 2010.
“The construction of road in Mizoram side is scheduled to be completed by June this year as only 1.5 km is left to be constructed,” the Chief Minister said while replying to a question from ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) MLA K Pachhunga.
However, as per reports the construction of the remaining portion of the road may get delayed as the Centre is yet to release funds for the revised estimate.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Construction of the road in Mizoram side was disrupted several times due to compensation issues.
Almost 92 percent of the road construction work has been completed.
Also read: Manipur: Suspected insurgents lob grenade at Assam Rifles camp in Imphal, one jawan injured
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga further informed that construction of the road in Myanmar side is also nearing completion.
Though the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) provided funds to the Myanmar government, the construction of the road in Myanmar side was disrupted due to Rakhine based armed group Arakan Army (AA), who demanded 10 per cent taxes from the constructing agencies.
The KMMTTP is a bilateral project of India and Myanmar, which was launched in April, 2008 by the Congress-led UPA Government as part of the ‘Look East’ (now Act East) policy.
The original estimate of the project was Rs 575.69 crore and was initially scheduled to be completed by 2014.
The project when completed would first link the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata to Sittwe seaport in Myanmar across the Bay of Bengal, a distance of 539 km.
From Sittwe, the route will continue over river Kaladan to the western Myanmarese town of Paletwa.
Also read: ‘Rebellion’ within Tripura BJP: Party workers ‘cannot accept’ IPFT candidates for TTAADC elections
Paletwa will then be connected to the India-Myanmar border by a 110-km-long road.
The international border will then be connected by road with southernmost Mizoram’s Lawngtlai town 87.18 km away.
The road is designed to be a national highway double lanes standard.