India-Myanmar Kaladan project flagged off
Recently a ship was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port in Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar. With this, the Sittwe port has officially started operations.
The shipment is part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). Its primary objective is to create an alternative route to connect the North Eastern region and the mainland of India.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (WAI) is the Project Development Consultant for the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).
Benefits of connecting the North Eastern Region (NER) to the mainland
- The project meets the strategic needs of the country by providing easy access to the North Eastern Region, as currently the Siliguri Chicken Neck Corridor is the only viable route connecting the region to the Indian mainland.
- There will be industrial development of this area and the potential of tourism can be harnessed. This will help in ensuring socio-economic development and generate employment opportunities in the region.
- India’s trade with South-East Asian countries will get a further boost. Along with this, regional integration will also be strengthened through the ‘Act East’ policy.
Other initiatives taken to improve connectivity in the North Eastern Region
- India and Bangladesh have signed Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol.
- India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT): This highway connects Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar.
- The India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF) aims to promote connectivity within the NER and between the NER and South-East Asia.
- Bangladesh—Bhutan—India—Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement has been signed.
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
- The Kaladan project connects Sittwe port in Myanmar to the Indo-Myanmar border.
- The project was jointly launched by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal platform for cargo shipments from eastern ports to Myanmar and the north-eastern parts of the country via Myanmar.
- Significance: It is expected to open sea routes and boost economic development in the northeastern states, and will also add value to the economic, commercial and strategic ties between India and Myanmar.
- The project will reduce the distance from Kolkata to Sittwe by about 1328 km and reduce the need for good transport through the Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken Neck.
Source – PIB
