May 24 – Negotiations for a planned India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, an example that demonstrates India’s commitment to its ‘Act East’ policy under which the Asian powerhouse seeks to uplift economic and other ties with neighbouring countries in the East, are in advanced stages, according to the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways of India and Indian Ambassador to Thailand.
long tri-nation passage, intending to link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, was initially to be signed in 2015. But November elections in Myanmar delayed the project. The agreement is now expected to be signed soon after receiving a positive feedback from Myanmar’s new government.
Starting in north eastern Indian town of Moreh, the proposed land route that will link north east India and Myanmar’s north western town of Tamu to the city of Mae Sot in Tak Province of Thailand is aimed to enhance trilateral economic and trade activities via Indo-Myanmar and Myanmar-Thai cross-border connectivity. The Thai city of Mae Sot is well connected to Myanmar’s inner commercial networks including important cities such as Mawlamyine and Hpa-An through the border linkage with Myawaddy, one of the major cities in Myanmar.
A total of 73 bridges on the course of the planned highway, many of which were built during World War II in Myanmar, are being renovated with funding from the Indian government as part of the highway project. The passage is expected to be available to open to traffic from the three countries in 18 months.
The proposed highway will allow cargo and container trucks to travel from Imphal, the capital of Indian state of Manipur, to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, continuously linking to Thailand’s Mae Sot. Connecting India’s landlocked north eastern states with Southeast Asia by road will better facilitate the land transportation of goods between India and the business hubs throughout Southeast Asia.
