February 8, 2014

India, Myanmar, Thailand road project at feasibility stage



A feasibility report is being prepared for the proposed highway to connect India with neighbouring Myanmar and Thailand,
the government said on Thursday.  "Presently, projects are at feasibility-report stage," Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways, Sarvey Sathyanarayana, told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
"India agreed to undertake upgradation of the Kalewa-Yagyi section of trilateral highway and construction of 71 bridges in the Tamu-Kalea section," Sathyanarayana said.  The highway will help in smoother and faster movement of goods between these regions.  Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma had said the trilateral highway will be completed soon.
The idea of the highway -- from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar -- was conceived at a trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Yangon in April 2002. It represents a significant step in establishing connectivity between India and South East Asian countries.  India imports one-third of its pulses and one-fifth of its timber from Myanmar.