1/11/2018 NHAI awards Myanmar project to Punj Lloyd-Varaha venture | Business Line

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NHAI awards Myanmar project to Punj Lloyd-Varaha venture

Our BureauNew Delhi, September 6: The National Highway Authority of India has awarded its first international project in Myanmar to a Joint Venture ofPunj Lloyd-Varaha.

This is for the upgradation of Yagyi-Kalewa section in Myanmar to Two Lane with Earten Shoulder on the Engineering,Procurement, and Construction mode.

An official statement said that the 120-km long project was estimated to cost ₹1,177.02 crore and is to be completedwithin 36 months.

Punj Lloyd-Varaha’s bid was identified as most competitive among four qualified bidders. It was at ₹1,177 crore or0.0017 per cent lower than the estimated cost.

In year end review of 2016, the Ministry of Road Transport Highways said that India is funding construction of 120.74km road between Kalewa and Yargi section of the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway, in Myanmar toimprove connectivity with South-East Asia by road.

The Trilateral Highway starts from Moreh (Manipur) in India up to Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar. India willalso fund the construction of 69 Bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa Road (149.70 km) section.

Construction of 130 km length stretch of road connecting Moreh (India)/Tamu (Myanmar) to Kalewa in Myanmar hasalready been completed by Border Roads Organisation of India.

(This article was published on September 6, 2017)

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India puts Myanmar highway project on the fast trackThe Punj Lloyd-Varaha Infra joint venture has won the contract for the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway during PM Narendra Modi’s maiden Myanmar visitLast Published: Thu, Sep 07 2017. 07 54 AM IST

Jyotika Sood | Utpal Bhaskar

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The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway will run from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Photo: Reuters

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New Delhi: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first bilateral visit to Myanmar, India is pulling out all stops to expedite the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.

A Rs1,200 crore construction and maintenance road contract funded by India for the Yagyi-Kalewa section in Myanmar was awarded to a joint ventureof Punj Lloyd Ltd and Varaha Infra Ltd on Wednesday.

India has been instrumental in implementing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which will run from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot inThailand via Myanmar. The plan also involves extending it to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and the project forms an important part of India articulatingits role in the proposed transportation architecture in the region and beyond.

The critical 120km stretch in Myanmar will be upgraded to two lanes with the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract funded byIndia’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) involving construction and repair of more than a dozen bridges. The project is being implemented by state-runNational Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

In response to a query about the project’s status, Rohit Singh, member, finance at NHAI said on Wednesday, “Yes, we have identified the bidder and theletter of award will be issued today.”

While Varaha Infra couldn’t be immediately contacted, a Punj Lloyd spokesperson confirmed the development and said that the joint venture’s bid wasthe lowest. “We are still to receive the letter of intent,” the spokesperson added.

Myanmar occupies a unique geographical position which India plans to leverage even as India and China have been trying to secure energy resources inMyanmar.

Queries emailed to India’s ministry of external affairs and Myanmar embassy in New Delhi remained unanswered till filing of this report.

In response to a query in Rajya Sabha on 8 December last year, V.K. Singh, minister of state in the external affairs ministry said, “Government of India isexploring the possibility of extending the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam. The extension is envisaged asan important connectivity project that would facilitate trade and promote production networks across the borders.”

The bilateral trade between India and Myanmar is $2.2 billion with Indian firms having invested $750 million in Myanmar. The Indian government hasmade a $1.75 billion commitment in grants and aid to its neighbour with whom it shares a 1600km long boundary.

With an eye on China, India is working on a slew of road and bridge projects to improve connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. Theseinclude road networks connecting Aizawl in Mizoram with Kaladan in Myanmar and Imphal in Manipur with Tamu, also in Myanmar.

India’s Act East plans comes in the backdrop of Japan joining hands to aggressively develop infrastructure projects in India’s northeastern states.

India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in July approved a Rs1,630 crore road project for upgradation and widening of the 65-km roadstretch between Imphal in Manipur and Moreh in Myanmar. Once completed, the project will play an important role in the Great Asian Highway,connecting 32 Asian countries.

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India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral

Highway

Route information

Length: 1,360 km(850 mi)

Existed: 2019 – presentWest end: Moreh, Manipur,

IndiaEast end: Mae Sot, Tak

Province,Thailand

India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral HighwayThe India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway is a highway under construction under India's Look East

policy that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar.[1] Imphal-Mandalay-Bangkok 1980 km

route, consisting of Imphal-Mandalay 584 km and Mandalay-Bangkok 1397 km, is good condition higway except for

the under upgrade 101 km part of 120 km long Kalewa-Yagyi stretch,[2][3] revised expected completion date for which

is 2019.

The road is expected to boost trade and commerce in the ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of

Southeast Asia. India has also proposed extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.[4] The proposed

approx 3,200 km (2,000 mi) route from India to Vietnam is known as the East-West Economic Corridor (Thailand to

Cambodia and Vietnamn became operational in 2015).[5]

India and ASEAN have plans to extend this route to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as this connectivity will generate

annually, an estimated US$70 billion in incremental GDP and 20 million in incremental aggregate employment by

2025, and India has offered US$1 billion line-of-credit for the India-ASEAN connectivity projects (c. Dec 2017).[6]

History

Route upgrade status

Look-East connectivity

See also

References

A highway connecting Moreh to Mae Sot via Myanmar was first proposed at a trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Yangon in April 2002.[7] The

length of the four-lane highway is approximately 1,360 km (850 mi).[8][9]

Contents

History

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The India–Myanmar Friendship Road, officially inaugurated on 13 February 2001, forms part of the trilateral highway. Per the original agreement between India

and Myanmar on the Friendship Road project, the Indian government was tasked with widening and repaving the existing roads in the area, while the Myanmar

government would upgrade the decrepit single-lane bridges along the route. However, the Myanmar government failed to carry out the upgradation work.[10] In

May 2012, India announced that it would invest US$100 million to repave the existing highway and upgrade all 71 bridges that Myanmar had failed to build.[11]

Myanmar stated that it would upgrade the Yargi-Monywa section and open the existing motorway between Mandalay-Naw Pyi Taw and Yangon. Following the

2015 Myanmar elections, the new government withdrew the country's commitment, and India is expected to upgrade the stretch from Moreh to Monywa. An

alternate alignment for the stretch between Mandalay-Naw Pyi Taw and Yangon has also been proposed.[12]

During Myanmar President U. Htin Kyaw's state visit to India in August 2016, an MoU was signed with the Government of India under which the latter will fund

the construction of 69 bridges, including approach roads in the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section (149.70 km (93.02 mi)) of the highway, and also upgrade the

Kalewa-Yagyi section (120.74 km (75.02 mi)).[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] India provided funding for the renovation of 73 bridges along the route in Myanmar that

were originally built during World War II.[20][21] India and Myanmar signed an agreement to speed up construction of the highway on 29 August 2016.[22][23][24]

Prabir De, coordinator of the ASEAN-India Centre at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, stated in November 2017 that the Border

Roads Organisation had completed upgrading the 160 km Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo section of the highway in Myanmar at a cost of US$27.28 million.[25] In August

2017, the government of India allocated US$256 million for the upgrade of 1,360 kilometres (850 mi) highway from Moreh in Manipur through Tamu, Myanmar to

Mae Sot in Thailand.[26] On 6 September 2017, the National Highway Authority of India awarded a ₹1,200 crore (US$190 million) construction and maintenance

road contract for the Kalewa-Yagyi section in Myanmar to a joint venture of Punj Lloyd and Varaha Infra Ltd. The 120 km stretch will be upgraded to a two-lane

road. The engineering, procurement and construction contract for the project will entirely be funded by the Indian Foreign Ministry.[27]

The 25.6 km (15.9 mi) long Myawaddy-Thinggan Nyenaung-Kawkareik section of the highway was inaugurated by Thai and Myanmar officials on 30 August 2015,

reducing travel time between Thinggan Nyenaung and Kawkareik from three hours to 45 minutes. Construction on the section had begun in 2012. On the same

day, a foundation stone laying ceremony was held at Myawaddy, Myanmar to mark the beginning of construction of the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge

No.2 that will link Mae Sot, Thailand with Myawaddy.[28][29][30][31]

A trial run of passenger vehicles on the highway up to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, was carried out during November 9–14, 2015 in which Indian vehicles

travelled to Myanmar on the Imphal-Mandalay-Bagan-Naypyidaw route and back, with Myanmar vehicles joining the Indian vehicles on the return journey. In

order to let people know about the highway, a car rally[32] was flagged off by the governments of the three countries from New Delhi. The rally will travel from New

Delhi to Guwahati and will enter Myanmar from Manipur (India) before moving on to Bangkok.[33]

In February 2017, Myanmar approved a proposal from the Thai government permitting the latter to upgrade a 68 km (42 mi) section of the road between Thaton in

Mon State and Ein Du in Kayin State. The upgrade will be financed by Thailand at a cost of US$51 million. Under the project, the road will be widened and its

surface improved. Myanmar also requested Thailand to assist in the development of other sections of the highway.[34][35][36]

In 2015, India proposed a trilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement to facilitate seamless movement of passenger and cargo vehicles among the three countries.[37] In

May 2017, during a visit by Thai officials to Manipur, the state's Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore declared that the draft of the trilateral agreement had already

been prepared.[38][39] In September 2017, Indian ambassador to Myanmar announced that an Imphal-Mandalay India-Myanmar bus service will commence from

2018 after India and Myanmar sign the motor vehicle agreement.[40]

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In May 2017, India's NITI Aayog proposed establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle owned by all three countries to monitor and implement the project.[41]

The highway's route will be Moreh (India) – Tamu (Myanmar) – Kalewa (Myanmar) – Yagyi (Myanmar) – Monywa (Myanmar) – Mandalay (Myanmar) – Meiktila

(Myanmar) – Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) – Payagyi (Myanmar) – Theinzayat (Myanmar) – Thaton (Myanmar) – Hpa'an (Myanmar) – Kawkareik (Myanmar) –

Myawaddy (Myanmar) – Mae Sot (Thailand).[42]

The status of upgrade of various segments of the highway according to India's Ministry of Development of the Northeast Region is shown below [43][44] During 9-

14 December 2015, Imphal-Mandalay-Naypyidaw bus service trial run only 101 km stretch bwteen Kalewa-Yagyi was the bumpy section.[3][2]

Route upgrade status

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Sl. Stretch Distance Status Remarks

1. Moreh-Tamu-Kalewa149.70 km(93.02 mi)

Completed(2017)

65 km (40 mi) Imphal to Moreh is being upgraded at INR16.3 billion, first 20 km up toWanginj village to 4 lane and the rest with 2 lane highway with the paved shoulders.Moreh-Kyigone-Kalemyo(Kalewa) section, also known as the “India-Myanmar FriendshipRoad,” was completed by India on 13 February 2001, of which 149.70 km Tamu to Kalewaupgrade was completed by India in 2017 to 2-lane highway in 2017 including 71bridges.[25] Integrated immigration and customs checkpost for all types of passenger atMoreh is also open in 2017 and its twin border town Tamu is just across the border inMyanmar.

2. Kalewa-Yagyi120.74 km(75.02 mi)

Beingupgraded(2019)

For Kalewa (Kalemyo) to Yagyi (Yargi and Yar Kyi) in Sagaing Region, India awarded theINR12 billion construction contract to Punj Lloyd and Varaha Infra in Sept 2017 forupgrading hilly mud track to 2-lane international highway standard.[27]

3. Yagyi-Chaungma-Monywa64.4 km(40.0 mi)

Completed(201?)

It passes through Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park . "Yagyi (Yargi)-Chaungma (ChaungMa)-Monywa" upgraded by Myanmar on BOT basis.

4. Monywa-Mandalay136 km(85 mi)

Completed(201?)

Monywa-Mandalay stretch is already developed.

5. Mandalay-Meiktila bypass123.13 km(76.51 mi)

Completed(2010)

Part of the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway that was opened in December 2010.

6.Meiktila bypass-Taungoo-Oktwin-Payagyi (Pyay)

238 km(148 mi)

Completed(2010)

Part of the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway that was opened in December 2010. Pyay orPayagyi, ancient pagoda studed seat of Pyu city-states, is a district in Bago Region.

7.Payagyi-Theinzayat (Thein ZaYat)-Thaton

140 km(87 mi)

Completed(2017)

Payagyi to Myeik (includes Thaton-Mawlamyine-Kawkareik section) is upgraded byIndia,[45][46] and it is part of National Highway 8 (Myanmar).

8. Thaton-Mawlamyine-Kawkareik134.4 km(83.5 mi)

Beingupgraded(2020)

In 2016 Myanmar secured a loan from the ADB for the 66.4 km (41.3 mi) Eindu-Kawkareiksection and started the construction in 2016 which continued in 2017.[47][48] In February2017, Thailand agreed to pay for the widening and upgrade of 68 km (42 mi) Thaton toEin Du (http://www.ourweb.info/01/maps/myanmar/state-2.shtml) (Kayin State) section ofThaton-Eindu-Mawlamyaing road that is part of National Highway 8 (Myanmar).[34]

9. Kawkareik-Myawaddy 25.6 km Completed Myawaddy-Thinggan Nyenaung-Kawkareik highway was completed and inaugurated on 30

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(15.9 mi) (2015) August 2015, cutting time between Thinggan Nyenaung and Kawkareik from three hoursto 45 minutes.

10. Myawaddy-Mae Sot20 km(12 mi)

Almostcomplete(2018)

Customs, new second road and rail bridge, 16km Mae Sot bypass road and Tak-Mae Sothighway on Thai side are complete in Dec 2017, only 4km road to connect to the NationalHighway on Myanmar is pending due to the land acquisiton issues (Dec 2017).[49]

Commerce with South and East Asian nations accounts for almost 45% of India's foreign trade.[50][51] Myanmar and ASEAN nations are part of India's Look East

policy.[52][53][54] India is part of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC, East Asia Summit,Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, United Nations Economic and

Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Highway Network and the Trans-Asian Railway network and India has embarked on several Look-East

connectivity projects.[55][56]

Pakokku Bridge

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2. htt p://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=travel.Manipur_Travel_Log.Myanmar_As_I_see_it_By_Clay_Khongsai Myanmar - As I see it, Dec 2015.3. htt p://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=travel.Manipur_Travel_Log.Imphal_Mandalay_Bus_Service_a_dream_come_true_By_M_Lakshmikumar

Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service a dream come true, e-pao, Dec 2015.4. north east story (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160810/jsp/northeast/story_101585.jsp)5. "Myanmar Road Project Hooks 1.8 Billion Baht From Thailand" (http://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/burma-road-project-hooks-1-8-billion-baht-from-thail

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Look-East connectivity

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9. "MEA directed to monitor trilateral highway project" (http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/mea-directed-to-monitor-trilateral-highway-project/371637/). The Financial Express. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.

10. "India Myanmar Friendship Road" (http://www.irrawaddy.com/multimedia-burma/slow-connectivity-india-burma-border.html). 2014-07-23. Retrieved2016-07-10.

11. Walker, Morgan Hartley and Chris. "Burma's Second Chance For Trade With India" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/morganhartley/2013/03/26/burmas-second-chance-for-trade-with-india/#3d7cb3221682). Forbes. Retrieved 2016-07-10.

12. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/connectivity-with-myanmar-the-wait-gets-longer/article9022490.ece13. Correspondent, Special. "India, Myanmar to build bridges, sign pact for 69" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/India-Myanmar-to-build-bridges-si

gn-pact-for-69/article14596559.ece). The Hindu. Retrieved 17 December 2016.14. Diplomat, Sampa Kundu, The. "How India Can Direct its 'Act East' Policy Toward Myanmar" (http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/how-india-can-direct-its-act-eas

t-policy-toward-myanmar/). The Diplomat. Retrieved 17 December 2016.15. India, Press Trust of (1 December 2016). "IMT trilateral highway: India completes 130 km stretch" (http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/imt

-trilateral-highway-india-completes-130-km-stretch-116120101197_1.html). Business Standard India. Retrieved 17 December 2016.16. "Construction of 69 Bridges for Better Road Connectivity Between India and South East Asia" (http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-r

elease/construction-of-69-bridges-for-better-road-connectivity-between-india-and-116120101029_1.html). Business Standard India. 1 December 2016.Retrieved 17 December 2016.

17. "The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has engaged Egis in India for the prestigious Trilateral Highway project" (http://infrabuddy.com/the-ministry-of-external-affairs-mea-has-engaged-egis-in-india-for-the-prestigious-trilateral-highway-project-2/). 18 September 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

18. "Q.NO.2824.International Highway" (http://mea.gov.in/lok-sabha.htm?dtl/24461/QNO2824INTERNATIONAL+HIGHWAY). mea.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July2016.

19. "Consultancy Services for Preparation of Feasibility Report for Upgradation of Kalewa-Yagyi Road Section in Myanmar" (http://www.egis-india.com/egis-in-action/projects/consultancy-services-preparation-feasibility-report-upgradation-kalewa-yagyi). egis-india.com. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

20. "India, Thailand, Myanmar working on 1,400 km link road" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-Thailand-Myanmar-working-on-1400km-link-road/articleshow/52400404.cms). The Times of India. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

21. "1400-Km Long Road To Connect India, Thailand, Myanmar" (http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/india-thailand-myanmar-to-be-connected-with-a-1400-km-road-1409131). NDTV. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

22. Myanmar President meets Modi in Delhi, 4 agreements signed (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Myanmar-President-meets-Modi-in-Delhi-4-agreements-signed/articleshow/53915104.cms)

23. PM Narendra Modi road-map and action agenda with Myanmar now evolved (http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/pm-narendra-modi-road-map-and-action-agenda-with-myanmar-now-evolved/361105/)

24. PM holds talks with Myanmarese president (http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pm-holds-talks-with-myanmarese-president/article9045541.ece)25. "ASEAN Summit: Connectivity remains challenge as trilateral highway through Myanmar and Thailand remains incomplete" (http://www.firstpost.com/india/a

sean-summit-connectivity-remains-challenge-as-trilateral-highway-through-myanmar-and-thailand-remains-incomplete-4203223.html). Firstpost. 10November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

26. "China's Silk Road lends urgency to India's regional ambitions." (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chinas-silk-road-lends-urgency-to-indias-regional-ambitions/articleshow/59981753.cms), Economic Times, 9 August 2017.

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27. Sood, Jyotika (6 September 2017). "India puts Myanmar highway project on the fast track" (http://www.livemint.com/Companies/IPUpgapYWuqhH07OokYWIM/Punj-Llyod-JV-wins-Rs1177-crore-NHAI-project-in-Myanmar.html). www.livemint.com/. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

28. "New Asian highway section to link India-Myanmar-Thailand" (http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/new-asian-highway-section-becomes-operational-115083100169_1.html). Business Standard. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

29. "Section of new Asian highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand put into service" (http://www.firstpost.com/india/new-asian-highway-linking-india-myanmar-and-thailand-put-into-service-2418178.html). Firstpost. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

30. "Section of India-Myanmar-Thailand Asian Highway put into service" (http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/section-of-india-myanmar-thailand-asian-highway-put-into-service-26163.html). India TV News. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

31. Mon, Ye (29 August 2016). "CSOs call for suspension of Asia Highway construction" (http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/22184-csos-call-for-suspension-of-asia-highway-construction.html). Myanmar Times. Retrieved 12 February 2017.

32. http://www.easternfeed.com/india-myanmar-thailand-friendship-car-rally-bolster-relations/33. http://www.easternfeed.com/sonowal-flags-off-indo-myanmar-thailand-friendship-motor-car-rally/34. PCL., Post Publishing. "Myanmar gives road link boost" (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1192285/myanmar-gives-road-link-boost). Bangkok Post.

Retrieved 12 February 2017.35. "Thailand offers $51m highway upgrade, as trade mission boosts bilateral ties" (http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/thailand-offers-51m-highway-upgrade-as-trad

e-mission-boosts-bilateral-ties). Frontier Myanmar. Retrieved 12 February 2017.36. "Myanmar Road Project Hooks 1.8 Billion Baht From Thailand" (https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/burma-road-project-hooks-1-8-billion-baht-from-tha

iland.html). The Irrawaddy. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.37. "Plea for Motor vehicle agrement between India and Myanmar" (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/plea-for-motor-vehicle-a

grement-between-india-and-myanmar/articleshow/57186840.cms). The Economic Times. Retrieved 17 February 2017.38. "Thailand Envoy Visits Manipur" (https://www.northeasttoday.in/thailand-envoy-visits-manipur/). Northeast Today. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.39. "Thai delegation visits Manipur" (http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/thai-delegation-visits-manipur/). www.easternmirrornagaland.com. Retrieved

1 June 2017.40. Imphal-Mandalay bus service likely to begin from next year. (http://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/9520-imphal-mandalay-bus-service-likely-to-begin-fro

m-next-year), Imphal Times, 9 Sept 2017.41. " 'Construct India-Myanmar-Thailand highway through SPV' " (http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/construct-india-myanmar-thailand-highwa

y-through-spv-117053001821_1.html). Business Standard India. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.42. "Q 2343 Progress of Trilateral Road" (http://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/23789/Q+2343+PROGRESS+OF+TRILATERAL+ROAD). Indian Ministry of

External Affairs. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.43. "Myanmar, Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region, Northeast India" (http://mdoner.gov.in/node/1505). Ministry of Development of the Northeast

Region. June 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2016.44. htt p://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/gadkari-announces-rs-22000-crore-road-package-for-manipur/ Gadkari announces Rs 22,000 crore road package for

Manipur, Eastern Mirror Nagaland, 11 Dec 2016.45. UP-Thailand highway may miss 2016 deadline (http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/up-thailand-highway-may-miss-2016-deadline/1292945/), Sept

2014.

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46. India fails to walk the 'Act East' talk (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-fails-to-walk-the-Act-East-talk/articleshow/46248292.cms), Times ofIndia, 2015.

47. https://www.adb.org/projects/46422-003/main48. https://www.adb.org/projects/46422-001/main49. htt ps://news.thaivisa.com/article/13072/land-expropriations-stall-second-thai-myanmar-friendship-bridge-opening Land expropriations stall second Thai-

Myanmar friendship bridge opening, Dec 201750. India's Look East Policy (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IJ31Df01.html)51. Sino-Indian relations (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+in0176))52. "Vietnam among pillars of India's "Look East" policy" (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/89377/vietnam-among-pillars-of-india-s--look-east--polic

y.html). english.vietnamnet.vn. Vietnam News Agency. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.53. "Modi govt to give greater push to India's Look East Policy, says Sushma Swaraj" (http://firstbiz.firstpost.com/economy/modi-govt-give-greater-push-indias-l

ook-east-policy-says-sushma-swaraj-94718.html). Firstpost. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-09-10.54. "Sushma Swaraj tells Indian envoys to Act East and not just Look East" (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-26/news/53243802_1_india-a

nd-asean-countries-east-asia-strategically-important-region). The Economic Times. 26 August 2014.55. India's "Look East" Policy Pays Off (http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/2003/1011indiaasean.htm)56. India's Look East Policy (2) (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IJ31Df02.html)

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India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway: A Promise to Transform theRegion’s Economic LandscapeRupakjyoti Borah (Visiting Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore ) (https://japan-forward.com/author/rupakjyoti-borah/)

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A herd of elephants cross a road in the northeastern state of Assam, India, July 12, 2017. REUTERS

 

 

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China’s ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative has taken the world by storm and forced everyone to sit up and take notice. Most Asian countries have jumped on to the OBOR

bandwagon, while New Delhi opted to sit out.

 

So, when recently, India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic A�airs gave its approval for the upgrading and widening of a section of the roadway between the capital of India’s

Northeastern state of Manipur, Imphal, and the town of Moreh, located on the border with Myanmar, it generated some buzz in both academic and policy circles.

 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided loan assistance for this project (http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=167351) under the South Asian Sub-Regional

Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Programme.  

 

While, on the surface, there is nothing special about this go-ahead, what is worth noting here is that this section of roadway is part of the ambitious India-Myanmar-Thailand

trilateral highway (http://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/left-behind-in-race-by-china-india-tries-to-speed-up-myanmar-projects/59119941), which, when

completed in 2020, has the potential to transform the economic landscape of this entire region. The IMT highway will connect Moreh in India’s Manipur state to Mae Sot in Thailand

via Myanmar.

 

 

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Bridge to Southeast Asia

 

So, why is this highway crucial for India?

 

First, it will help improve connectivity between India’s remote Northeastern part and Southeast Asia. For long, the lack of physical connectivity with Southeast Asia has been an

Achilles’ heel in India’s “Act-East Policy.” The trilateral highway will improve India’s connectivity with Myanmar and Thailand, and in the future there are plans to connect it with pre-

existing roads and take it all the way to Vietnam.

 

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Secondly, with the construction of this road, which started as the India-Myanmar friendship road way back in 2001, the recent non-attendance by India at China’s Belt and Road

Forum in Beijing seems to have injected a new measure of earnestness among Indian policy planners when it comes to executing such road projects.

 

Thirdly, Northeast India has been lagging behind other parts of the country when it comes to infrastructure. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone

of India’s longest river bridge (http://japan-forward.com/5-reasons-indias-longest-bridge-should-matter-to-japan-and-southeast-asia/) over the river Lohit in the northeastern state of

Assam, very close to the border with China. When completed, the IMT highway will also give easy access to the Northeastern states to the sea (via Myanmar).

 

Fourthly, as the recent stand-o� with China over its road-building activity in Bhutanese territory (http://japan-forward.com/how-india-should-respond-to-the-doklam-stando�/)

(claimed by China) shows, Beijing is trying to improve the infrastructure in its border areas. This seems to be intended with the dual purpose of facilitating economic development

and allowing quick movement of its military personnel and hardware, if needed. Hence, New Delhi’s earlier strategy of not building good infrastructure in the Northeast, to deter

Chinese invasion (as in 1962) obviously does not hold much ground, under the present circumstances. In the future, China has plans to build a rail head right to the doorsteps of the

Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

 

What’s In It For Myanmar?

 

There has been domestic opposition to some Chinese projects infrastructure in Myanmar (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/world/asia/myanmar-china-myitsone-dam-

project.html), like the Myitsone dam. Hence, authorities in Myanmar are trying to �nd a balance between relying excessively on investment from China and seeking investment and

technology from countries like India.

 

It was during the visit of President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar to India in August 2016 (http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?

dtl/27343/India+Myanmar+Joint+Statement+during+the+visit+of+the+President+of+Myanmar+to+India+29+August+2016) that an MoU for “cooperation in the

construction/upgradation of the bridges and approach road in Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section” and an “MoU for cooperation in the Construction/Upgradation of Kalewa-Yagyi road

section of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar” were signed.

 

India is also involved in the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar, which involves connectivity between Northeastern India and the port of Sittwe in Myanmar

through the Kaladan river in Myanmar. This involves the building of an integrated port and inland water transport terminal in Sittwe

(http://www.mdoner.gov.in/content/introduction-1), dredging and development of a navigation channel along the Kaladan river from the port of Sittwe until Paletwa (in Myanmar),

and thereafter building road connectivity between Paletwa to the India-Myanmar border.   

 

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Possibility of Cooperation with Japan

 

However, there are quite a few challenges to the successful execution of this project.

 

First, the terrain in Northeast India and some parts of Myanmar, given its mountainous nature, will make the execution of the project di�cult. These parts also experience heavy

rainfall.

 

Secondly, there are still some insurgent out�ts operating in parts of Manipur and also in Myanmar. However, the good news is that most of them are either on the run or in cease�re

mode with the governments of India and Myanmar.

 

Thirdly, since three countries—India, Myanmar, and Thailand—are involved in the construction of this highway, issues of coordination have risen in the past and will need to be

sorted out in a mutually agreeable manner.

 

As regards cooperation with Japan (http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/page18_000076.html), Tokyo’s technical expertise could be key to the smooth execution of this project. New

Delhi and Tokyo have already agreed to cooperate in the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), and Japan has its own Partnership for Quality Infrastructure initiative.  

 

Although Japan sent a delegation to the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, it is still undecided on its participation (http://japan-forward.com/chinas-one-belt-one-road-should-be-met-

with-cautious-cooperation/) in the same. As Tokyo is already collaborating with New Delhi in the infrastructure sector, both in India and beyond, it could provide technical expertise

to New Delhi in the execution of the IMT trilateral highway project too, and this could be a template for Indo-Japanese cooperation in the infrastructure arena in other parts of the

world.

 

Seeing It Through

 

New Delhi must show its political heft and diplomatic acumen in order to not only �nish this road by the deadline of 2020, but also in building a world-class road. Only then will it be

able to provide an alternative to Beijing’s aggressive infrastructure building activities in India’s immediate neighborhood.

 

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(http://sankei2ad.durasite.net:80/A-a�liate2/mobclick?

campid=81996&creid=82005&keyword=nir.pc.300x250.03&uaid=0&info=16869107115156524414040081&kuid=&ksegments=)

In addition, this year, India and ASEAN are celebrating 25 years of their dialogue partnership. The trilateral highway project will not only help India build physical connectivity with

the ASEAN, but also improve the people-to-people contacts and increase goodwill towards New Delhi in this region. After all, as they say, a “good neighbor is far better than a distant

relative.”

 

 

 

Dr Rupakjyoti Borah is with the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. He was an assistant professor of International Relations at PDPU, India, and

a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge in the UK, and at the Japan Institute of International A�airs in Tokyo. The views expressed are personal. Twitter@rupakj

 

 

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TheroadtoMekong:theIndia-Myanmar-Thailandtrilateralhighwayproject

Article·February2017

CITATION

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1author:

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FEBRUARY 2017

ISSUE NO. 171

INTRODUCTION

The Indian government is giving a renewed push to road connectivity with Southeast Asia. On 13 November 2016, the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT Highway) Friendship Car Rally was flagged off in Delhi by Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Indian Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers. According to the government, the objective of the rally was to sensitise stakeholders to the potential benefits of a motor vehicles

2agreement (MVA) between the three countries.

Earlier, on 8 September 2016 at the 14th India-ASEAN Summit held in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed the need for further strengthening Delhi's ties with the regional bloc ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Emphasising the significance of overall connectivity and physical connectivity in particular, as the first step to enhancing people-to-people contacts, Modi proposed the setting up of a Joint Task Force on connectivity to work on extending the IMT highway even further to

Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is a public policy think-tank that aims to influence the formulation of

policies for building a strong and prosperous India. ORF pursues these goals by providing informed and productive inputs, in-depth research, and stimulating discussions. The Foundation is supported in its mission by a cross-section of India’s leading public figures, as well as academic and business leaders.

NARESH BANA

K. YHOME

1The Road to Mekong : the India-Myanmar-Thailand

Trilateral Highway Project

ABSTRACT country's 'Act East' policy, the ongoing India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project—currently the only land connectivity project between India and the Mekong countries and the wider Southeast Asian region—could prove to be a game changer. It is imperative to explore ways to ensure early completion of this strategic communication link. This paper focuses on the project's procedural, financial and bureaucratic aspects and provides recommendations to ensure its effective and timely implementation.

As India places the Mekong sub-region among its priorities under the

3Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Just a month before that, during the visit of President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar to India in August 2016, two MoUs were signed for the construction and upgrade of bridges and approach roads in the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section and the Kalewa-

4Yargyi section of the IMT highway in Myanmar.

Delhi's renewed diplomatic focus on the Mekong sub-region comes at a time when the region is seeing increased geopolitical competition among major powers, including China, the US, India and Japan, as their interests overlap and intersect in this sub-

5region. As Delhi gives a further diplomatic push to strengthening ties with the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) and Thailand under the Modi government's 'Act East' policy, the IMT highway project could be a game changer for India-Mekong ties and the wider Southeast Asia. As India and ASEAN take the proposed joint task force forward, the need to complete the original stretch of the project from India to Thailand via Myanmar has become even more urgent. This paper examines the significance and current status of the IMT highway, focusing on its procedural, financial and bureaucratic aspects. It provides specific recommendations to ensure effective and timely implementation of the project—currently the only land connectivity project underway between India and the Mekong countries and to the wider Southeast Asia region.

The Mekong sub-region, or what the Indian government calls the CLMV countries, forms a major part of mainland Southeast Asia and connects the Bay of Bengal to the South China Sea, by land. For India, the strategic salience of the sub-region lies in the fact that it shares long

STRATEGIC SALIENCE OF THE MEKONG SUB-REGION

land and maritime boundaries with one of the CLMV countries, Myanmar, in the Bay of Bengal, and its important strategic partner Vietnam has maritime territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea—through which about 50 percent of India's trade passes. The direct impact of China's rise has been playing out in the CLMV countries in recent years, with China emerging as either the largest, or a major, trading and investment partner of all the CLMV countries. As China's wealth spreads to its immediate peripheries, poorer and smaller nations in the Mekong sub-region are being drawn towards the Chinese economy. On the strategic front, Beijing has been taking advantage of the geostrategic location of the CLMV countries to reach the Indian Ocean and to tie their economies with its bigger and stronger economy by building rail and road networks and laying energy pipelines.

China also plans to connect its southwest Yunnan provincial capital of Kunming with the Southeast Asian nations with new high- and medium-speed rail services. In November 2016, Laos signed a railway deal to connect its capital,

6Vientiane with Kunming. The line is expected to be completed by 2020 with work on the Chinese side already underway since last December. Another rail line will run from

7Kunming to Vietnam and Cambodia. Earlier, China built oil and gas pipelines running from

8the Bay of Bengal to Yunnan through Myanmar and also plans to build rail tracks and roads

9along the pipelines. Along with these rail lines or what China calls the “pan-Asian Railway Network”, these corridors will be part of the China-proposed One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative and will form the “Indochina Peninsula Corridor”, one of the six trans-regional economic corridors of the OBOR. Importantly, all the CLMV countries have given official assent to the initiative, giving it varying

2 ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

degrees of support. Laos and Cambodia have 10been “most supportive” of the OBOR. During

her visit to China in July 2016, Myanmar's state counsellor and foreign minister Aung San Suu

11Kyi “welcomed” the OBOR initiative.

Despite its official statement going along with the OBOR, Vietnam has been the “least

12supportive”. As China creates more corridors with and through the CLMV countries, its political and economic clout in this sub-region is going to grow further. The emerging China-initiated corridors have the potential of further tying the strategic interests of the Mekong nations to those of China.

With his visit to Laos to participate in the India-ASEAN summit, Prime Minister Modi has travelled to all the CLMV countries except Cambodia. In November 2014, Modi visited Myanmar to participate in the India-ASEAN Summit, during which he unveiled India's 'Act

13East' policy. Since coming to power, PM Modi's government has been giving a renewed push to strengthening ties with CLMV nations. Recognising the rapidly changing regional dynamics and the need for India to step up its role and presence, the Modi administration has prioritised Delhi's engagement with the leaders of the CLMV nations. Modi has already hosted leaders from two CLMV nations—Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited India

14in October 2014, and President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar visited Delhi in August 2016 and held

15bilateral discussion with the Indian leadership. Two months later, Aung San Suu Kyi visited India to attend the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa and also held talks with Prime Minister Modi on key bilateral and regional

16issues. During his visit to Hanoi in September 2016, Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart

PIVOT TO THE MEKONG SUB-REGION

3

decided to further expand and deepen their 17 countries' strategic partnership. During these

high-level visits, several important bilateral MoUs and agreements were reached on a range of areas including defence, trade, and connectivity.

An important element of the Act East policy is using cultural diplomacy to further India's interests. Buddhism is the predominant religion of all the CLMV countries and Modi has been tapping the rich Buddhist connection between India and the CLMV nations. Like most of the leaders from the CLMV nations, President Kyaw of Myanmar and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen visited the most revered place for the followers of Buddhism—Bodh Gaya in Bihar—during their India visits.

Importantly, in August 2016, the Modi Cabinet cleared a proposal to create a $75-million project development fund (PDF) to increase India's economic presence in CLMV

18 countries. This fund is aimed at driving Indian investment in the Mekong sub-region. The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India has begun working with the Ministry of Commerce to set up the PDF. Earlier, in November 2015 at the India-ASEAN Summit, Modi announced a new $1-billion fund to boost physical and digital connectivity between India and the ASEAN

19 nations. To utilise this line of credit (LOC), India has shared proposals with ASEAN on digital connectivity involving a regional high-capacity fibre optic network, supplemented by a national rural broadband network and digital villages in remote areas. During the 14th ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, PM Modi asked ASEAN members to avail the LOC in

20implementing these projects.

Bilateral trade between India and the CLMV nations has grown from $0.46 billion in 2000 to

ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

over $10 billion in 2015-16, showing annual 21growth of 24 percent. Recognising the trade

potential, an India-CLMV business conclave was established in 2013 to create and provide a platform for decisionmakers and industry leaders to meet and identify opportunities for collaboration. The third conclave was held in January 2016, where Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the need for better connectivity and enhanced economic integration with regional value chains. The minister cited a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) study and pointed out that there was a potential of about $100 billion of additional

22 exports to the CLMV countries. As Delhi strengthens its connectivity with the Mekong sub-region, the land route needs to be given priority, as land connectivity, unlike air and sea, is more enduring, and once built becomes a permanent asset with much wider development impact along the corridor. It is in this context that the trilateral highway project needs to meet its 2020 deadline of completion.

4

THE TRILATERAL HIGHWAY PROJECT: CURRENT STATUS

As Delhi reaches out further to the Mekong sub-region and the wider Southeast Asia, it is imperative to ensure better physical connectivity. The ongoing India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project provides an opportunity for Delhi to leverage it to achieve some of its goals. This, however, will be possible by exploring new ways of implementing the project. The idea of a trilateral highway from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar was conceived at the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Transport Linkages in

23 Yangon in April 2002. The 1,360-km IMT highway was initially scheduled to be completed by 2015. According to an official from India's MEA, the completion of the project is now

24expected by 2020.

The IMT highway starts from Moreh in Manipur on the India-Myanmar border and runs via Tamu (Myanmar) to Mae-Sot in

Map: India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Route

ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

Source: http://www.knowmadicnews.com/2015/09/04/thailand-myanmar-india-road-trip/

5

Thailand. The project will require about 78 km of new roads and the upgrading of existing 400 km of roads. In Phase 1, India has the responsibility of building 78 km of missing links, upgrading 58 km of existing roads, and possibly improving a further 132 km. Thailand has taken on the responsibility of upgrading a total of 192 km in this phase and another 100 km under Phase 2.

The India-Myanmar Friendship Road, built with Indian government assistance, running from the border at Tamu/Moreh to Kalemyo and Kalewa, was inaugurated in 2001. This road, which also forms the first segment of the IMT Highway, was resurfaced and handed over to the

25Myanmar government in 2009. Though the road has helped movement between Tamu and Kalewa in Myanmar's Sagiang region bordering India, traffic remains low because of poor road conditions from Kalewa to Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city. In 2012, during then PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Myanmar, India agreed to undertake the task of repair/ and upgrade of 71 bridges along this Friendship

2 6Road. (Myanmar had taken up the responsibility of fixing these bridges in 2001 but could not deliver.) India also agreed to extend assistance to upgrade the 120-km Kalewa-Yargyi road segment to the standard of highways, while Myanmar took on the responsibility of building the 65-km Yargyi-Monywa segment at the same 'highway standard'. In 2012, the India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task Force on Trilateral Connectivity was revived and a meeting was held in Delhi on 10-11 September to review the

27 status of the project and discuss future steps.From Monywa, a 136-km two-lane highway to Mandalay already exists.

From Mandalay, the IMT route will be as follows: Mandalay-Meiktila Bypass-Nay Pyi

Taw-Phayag yi-Thaton-Hpa-An-Karaweik Myawaddy/Mae Sot. The road from Mandalay to Hpa-An has already been developed. In August 2015, the Karaweik-Myawaddy road, whose construction began in 2012, was

28 opened. The prolonged ethnic conflicts in Myanmar in this region have affected smooth implementation of the project. The trust deficit between the centre at Nay Pyi Taw and the peripheries has also created problems. Local rights groups, for instance, have alleged forced

29 displacement and unfair compensation during the upgrading of the 66-km Karaweik to Eindu road in Kayin state of Myanmar, for which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $100-million loan as part of the Greater Mekong

30Sub-region East-West Corridor.

A project that has been in the pipeline since 2003 is a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay. India and Myanmar finally agreed to launch service, covering a distance of 579 km, in 2012. A trial run of the bus was held on 9 December 2015 but the service is yet to be introduced. Infrastructural inadequacies in Myanmar, particularly bad road conditions, as well as lack of proper immigration and Customs points at the border are cited as key hurdles. India, Myanmar and Thailand have been negotiating an MVA for seamless movement of both passenger and cargo vehicles among these three countries. Once this is signed, the Imphal-Mandalay bus service is expected to become operational.

As pointed out earlier, the strategic significance of this highway cannot be overemphasised in the context of the growing cross-border transportation links that China has been building to connect with the Mekong countries. It is therefore imperative to look at this project in totality with an innovative and practical approach for timely completion and

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6

s m o o t h r u n n i n g o f t h i s s t r a t e g i c communication link.

On the Indian side, the project is being implemented by the MEA with the cooperation of its counterparts in Myanmar and Thailand and budgetary allocation from the Ministry of Finance. The road stretches requiring construction, upgradation or rehabilitation have been identified and assigned to the respective countries. Land availability for project construction (Right of Way or ROW) is assured and reportedly free of all encumbrances. Environmental and forest clearances are not an issue. There are no reports of any conflict or delay due to any railway/ highway crossing. Labour, construction materials and a conducive working environment are apparently available. It is important to note that the issues mentioned above are the major obstacles that prevent timely completion of highway projects in India. Further, the total quantum of work remaining on the IMT highway – i.e., bridges, cross drainage, pavement construction and appurtenances – are similar to those at any average highway project in India. There are no visible complexities as far as actual construction is concerned. What then is the cause of delay?

The processes of identifying the detailed scope of engineering work, preparation of p r o j e c t r e p o r t s , E P C ( E n g i n e e r i n g , Procurement, Construction) bidding and execution management are being undertaken by the MEA under procedures laid down by the government, including systems of checks and balances. Such a price discovery process entails selection of the lowest bidder by the MEA, while financial control is exercised by the Ministry of Finance. To expedite the price discovery process for this strategic project, Ircon Infrastructure &

31Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of

Ircon International Ltd. which operates under 3 2 the Ministr y of R ailways, has been

33incorporated as 'Authority Engineer'. While it brings the much needed technical capacity to aid procurement of a contractor by the MEA, it is susceptible to the bureaucratic delays common with government-owned companies in India. The 'Request for Proposal ' (RFP) for construction of 69 Bridges including approach roads on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road section is in the process of finalisation. It is one of the critical parts of the completion of this highway. The notice inviting tenders was first

34published on 19 April 2016 and the EPC contractor is yet to be finalised. In the corporate domain, this process usually takes less than three months. Actual construction work can only start after mobilisation (which usually takes 30-45 days). Therefore, even after the contractor is finalised, the actual construction will start sometime later this year. With 36 months allotted for construction of the bridges it appears unlikely that the project will be ready for full operation by end of 2020 as currently projected. Changes of government in participating countries impact international projects adversely, as decisionmaking is stalled during the transition period. In the present cas e , de c is ionmak ing involves thre e participating governments and two ministries in India. Within the MEA, the existing infrastructure project delivery mechanism suffers from sub-optimal project specific capacity of officials dealing with such strategic projects. It is evident that the complexity of decisionmaking and the project delivery mechanism can be suitably addressed if the decisionmaking loops are re-engineered, incorporating best practices followed within India and worldwide. In this context, it is worthwhile to examine how China is able to deliver large infrastructure projects and if other options exist.

China has embarked on its 'One Belt One Road' dream which has more than 300 huge

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7

35projects in various parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. To realise such gigantic infrastructure initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping has set up an informal high-level body linking government, the party, and financial institutions. It is headed by Zhang Gaoli, a senior party official, and carries enough weight to seamlessly coordinate all components of bureaucracy, state-owned enterprises and other stakeholders. Almost $82 billion has been provided to 'Policy Banks', i.e., government-owned banks to support the push for OBOR. India, for its part, has had a 'Development

3 6 A d m i n i s t rat i o n Pa r t n e r s h i p ( DPA ) 'organisation within MEA since 2012. It is mandated to handle India's aid projects through the stages of concept, launch, execution and completion. While it has had its successes, it is also limited in many ways, and as a result, a substantial number of India's Line of Credit projects are moving at a sub-optimal pace. Indian DPA appears more bureaucratic and short on financial muscle; there is a lack of an effective team to deliver the projects of strategic importance.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of India has been mandate to build and maintain roads on the frontiers and they have had many success stories, among them, the construction of roads in Bhutan. The BRO had completed the construction of the Tamu to Kalemyo-Kalewa road (160 km) in 2001 and maintained it until 2009 before handing it over to the Myanmar

37 government. They have their strategic priorities and their organisational deficiencies prevent them from being deployed for such major project in Myanmar.

There are many examples in India where major projects have been taken up from the concept stage and delivered on schedule. It is not the first time that decisionmaking structure/level is sought to be reviewed and

refined to suit the specific project. Often, such redesigning of decisionmaking has yielded positive results. More complex, bigger and more challenging projects have been and are being completed within an acceptable timeframe in India , when structured suitably. The incorporation of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Ltd., which has not only given Delhi a world-class project, but is also being replicated in many other cities of India, is a case in point. Contrast this with the Railway Ministry controlled development of the Kolkata Metro and one can easily see the difference it makes to adopt a project-oriented approach.

Having identified that the challenge is not so much in the engineering aspects as in decision-m a k i n g , orche s t rat ion o f f i n a nc i n g , coordination and control, it is clear that there is an urgent need to review the current project format and embark on 'project mode' with a team that can be held accountable, so as to achieve project objectives before the end of 2020, the deadline for completion.

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with joint ownership of all three countries could be incorporated. This SPV will be mandated to take over the project and ensure seamless movement of all types of projected traffic on the highway by 2020. To achieve that, it should:

(a) Take over the rights and responsibilities of existing stakeholders through necessary legal and statutory provisions.

(b) R ais e f und s f rom gover nment s/ multilateral institutions/ the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank)/ buyers Credit from India's EXIM Bank and all other sources which can quickly finance the ongoing and pending works.

WAY FORWARD

ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

(c) Identify and expedite the work remaining on various stretches within the three countries.

(d) Finalise the 'Trans-regional Transportation Framework' (TTF) for movement of freight and people seamlessly. Needless to say, it should be fully integrated with ITES (Information Technolog y Enabled Services) to make travel control and management smooth.

(e) Ensure adequate care and maintenance of the highway during the operations phase.

(f) Plan and implement further development to keep pace with increase in traffic.

(g) This highway has the potential to evolve into a linear economic excellence zone. There could be 'energy independent smart villages' and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) alongside the highway providing employment opportunities to millions while suitably tapping Indian and overseas markets. Ensuring best environmental sustainability practices for the project.

(h) Extend the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in the next phase.

The Board of Directors of the proposed SPV will be the highest decisionmaking body for project financing, execution, operations and management. It should have various verticals for smooth functioning. These could be:

(a) Financing and project cost management

(b) Construction and Future Infrastructure Development

(c) TTF and its Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

(d) O&M of Civil Engineering Infrastructure

(e) EEZ Development, Operations and Maintenance

(f) Performance Monitoring and Internal Coordination

The concept of SPV is well-known and being practised in Myanmar and Thailand. The SPV so formed for the IMT highway should use a multipronged approach to deliver the project in its entirety. These could either be the EPC route, or the PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) route using BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer), or a hybrid of the two, based on the bankability and value prospects of each project component. Considering the likely economic potential of this connectivity, the financial viability of this project cannot be doubted. If suitably structured and completed without further delay, it will not only be a strategic advantage for all stakeholders but would also provide much needed economic opportunity in the Mekong sub-region.

Many projects of national importance are being executed through the SPV route in India. In the infrastructure sector alone, in addition to the DMRC, there are many such entities under various ministries. To name a few—the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India

3 8 Ltd. (DFCCIL), the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

39(NHIDCL) and the Bharat Broadband Nigam 40Ltd. (BBNL) have been working in project

mode, tapping international finance and executing through Indian and foreign contractors in EPC/PPP mode. It shows there is enough capacity and precedence in the country to take up the SPV route.

The setting up of the SPV for the IMT highway will involve the following steps:

(a) Signing of an MoU between participating countries, which agrees to incorporate such a commercial entity – i.e. SPV – under the laws of a particular member country. It may be better to set up such an SPV in Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) as the maximum

SUGGESTED ROADMAP

8 ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

ABOUT THE AUTHORSNaresh Bana is an international consultant associated with UN ECE project teams, developing global PPP procurement standards for highways, railways and airports.

K. Yhome is a Research Fellow at ORF. He is the author of Myanmar: Can the Generals Resist Change?

length of the IMT highway will run through that country.

(b) Equity holders, i.e., member countries, can t h e n a s s i g n v a r i o u s r i g h t s a n d responsibilities for development of the project to this SPV by way of signing commercial contract agreements with it in accordance with applicable laws.

(c) Right of Way (ROW) should be transferred to the SPV by respective stakeholders.

(d) The SPV should approach multilateral financial institutions to line up funds.

(e) Depending on the bankability of a particular stretch, the appropriate route for delivering it should be followed – be it EPC or PPP(BOT) or a hybrid of the two.

(f) The SPV should continue overseeing operations and maintenance of the highway, its further widening and extension up to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, along with the development of EEZs and other future projects alongside the highway.

India's diplomatic interests in the CLMV countries remain intact, as is evident from the existence of a CLMV division in its foreign office, apart from the establishment in 2000 of the sub-regional bloc called Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC). However, the Mekong sub-region has hardly taken centre-stage in Delhi's foreign policy priorities. As the Indian political leadership changes this narrative by placing the Mekong sub-region among its top diplomatic priorities, the challenge is in sustaining the

CONCLUSION

focus and ensuring that the initiatives are effectively implemented on the ground. The IMT highway could prove to be the jewel in the crown of the 'Act East' policy. It is thus imperative that all alternatives available are explored to ensure early completion of this historic project. It would not only provide a much needed link for the people of India to connect with the people of the Mekong sub-region, but also a strategic reach for India against rapidly growing Chinese presence and influence in that region.

As Delhi takes transport connectivity beyond its borders, the need for stability, i m p ro v e d i n f r a s t r u c t u re a n d a c t i v e participation of its borderlands in regional diplomacy has become ever more critical. India's northeast is where the IMT highway begins. No transnational corridors can be leveraged for mutual benefits without first preparing the borderlands. For a long time, governments and key stakeholders from the northeastern states have supported the idea of opening up the border for greater economic interaction with their neighbouring countries. They have supported the various connectivity projects including the IMT highway project. At the same time, there have been voices from the Northeast cautioning against the danger of the region merely becoming a transit point for the emerging corridors. The IMT highway ought to be a development corridor to ensure that benefits accrue to local people along the highway. India's Northeast has long earned the title, Gateway to the East, and it is high time this vision is translated on the ground. The IMT highway holds the potential to do so.

9ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

10

ENDNOTES

1. The Mekong sub-region refers to the five mainland Southeast Asia nations (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) that form the Mekong River basin. 'Greater Mekong sub-region' is a broader area that includes the five Southeast Asian nations and two Chinese provinces - Yunnan and Guangxi. In this paper, the term 'Mekong sub-region' is used to refer to the former, interchangeable with 'CLMV' (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam).

2. See “India, Myanmar and Thailand Friendship Motor Car Rally, 2016 Flagged-off”, 13-November-2016, Press Information Bureau, Government of India at http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx? relid=153580

3. “PM Modi proposes Joint Task Force on extension of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway”, Business Standard, September 8, 2016 at http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pm-modi-proposes-joint-task-force-on-extension-of-india-myanmar-thailand-trilateral-highway-116090800170_1.html

4. See “India- Myanmar Joint Statement during the visit of the President of Myanmar to India”, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 29 August 2016 at http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/27343/India+Myanmar+Joint+Statement+during+the+visit+of+the+President+of+Myanmar+to+India+29+August+2016

5. See for instance Hidetaka Yoshimatsu, “The United States, China, and Geopolitics in the Mekong Region,” Asian Affairs: An American Review, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2015, pp. 173-194 and Hidetaka Yoshimatsu, “The Mekong Region, Regional Integration, and Political Rivalry Among ASEAN, China and Japan”, Asian Perspective, Vol. 34, No. 3, 2010, pp. 71-111.

6. “China, Laos sign railway deal”, China Daily, 14 November, 2015at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ china/2015-11/14/content_22456399.htm

7. “China's high-speed rail plans for Asia inch closer”, DW.com, 27 April 2016 at http://www.dw.com/ en/chinas-high-speed-rail-plans-for-asia-inch-closer/a-19217479

8. K. Yhome, “The geopolitics of China's new energy route”, East Asia Forum, 19 June 2013 at http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/06/19/the-geopolitics-of-chinas-new-energy-route

9. “New China-Myanmar oil pipeline bypasses Malacca trap”, The Hindu, January 30, 2015 at http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/new-chinamyanmar-oil-pipeline-bypasses-malacca-trap/article6839352.ece

10. “Thailand on board with OBOR, Taiwan's status unclear: analysts”, The China Post, 18 September, 2015 at http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/09/18/446170/Thailand-on.htm

11. “Xi vows to promote China-Myanmar partnership”, Xinhua19 July, 2016 at http://news.xinhuanet.com/ english/2016-08/19/c_135615833.htm

12. “Thailand on board with OBOR, Taiwan's status unclear: analysts”, The China Post, 18 September, 2015 at http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/09/18/446170/Thailand-on.htm

13. “'Look East' policy now turned into 'Act East' policy: Modi”, The Hindu, November 14, 2014 at http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/look-east-policy-now-turned-into-act-east-policy-modi/article6595186.ece

14. “Vietnamese Prime Minister to Visit India”, NDTV, October 25, 2014 at http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vietnamese-prime-minister-to-visit-india-683783

15. “PM Modi holds talks with Myanmar president to improve bilateral ties”, The Indian Express, 29 August, 2016 at http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-holds-talks-with-myanmarese-president-to-improve-bilateral-ties-3001920/

ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 171 l FEBRUARY 2017

The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

11

16. “Aung San Suu Kyi to visit India for four-day tour from Sunday”, The Indian Express, 18 October 2016 at http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/aung-san-suu-kyi-to-visit-india-for-four-day-tour-from-sunday-3078768/

17. “Narendra Modi seals defence cooperation with Vietnam, signs new credit line of $500 million”, The India Express, 3 September 2016 at http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-narendra-modi-vietnam-visit-agreements-signed-3011170

18. “Project development fund for CLMV countries soon”, The Hindustan Times, 16 August, 2016 at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/project-development-fund-for-clmv-countries-soon/article7547040.ece

19. “PM Modi proposes $1 billion line of credit for connectivity with Asean”, Mint, November 21, 2015 at http://www.livemint.com/Politics/riD4W4GN503dmSAGwBtZQN/PM-Modi-proposes-1-billion-line-of-credit-for-connectivity.html

20. See “Main Remarks by Prime Minister at the 14th ASEAN-India Summit held on 8 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR”, Speeches and Statements, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, September 08, 2016 at http://www.mea.gov.in/aseanindia/SpeechStatementEAS.htm?dtl/22612/ Main+Remarks+by+Prime+Minister+at+the+14th+ASEANIndia+Summit+held+on+8+September+2016+in+Vientiane+Lao+PDR

21. See the full text of “Valedictory Remarks by Secretary (East) at the 3rd India-CLMV Business Conclave on January 13, 2016,” Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, January 14, 2016 at http://mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/26267/Valedictory_Remarks_by_Secretary_East_ at_the_3rd_IndiaCLMV_Business_Conclave_January_13_2016

22. “Trade between India, CLMV can be much better: Nirmala Sitharaman”, DNA, 12 January, 2016 at http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-trade-between-india-clmv-can-be-much-better-nirmala-sitharaman-2165091

23. “India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task Force Meeting on the Trilateral Highway Project”, Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 11 September, 2012 at http://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/20541/IndiaMyanmarThailand+Joint+Task+Force+Meeting+on+the+Trilateral+Highway+Project

24. See “Transcript of Media Briefing by Secretary (ER), JS (BM) and Official Spokesperson (August 26, 2016)”, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, August 27, 2016 at https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/27338/Transcript_of_Media_Briefing_by_Secretary_ER_JS_BM_and_Official_Spokesperson_August_26_2016

25. See V. S. Seshadri, “Transforming Connectivity Corridors between India and Myanmar into Development Corridors”, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, 2014, p. 20 at http://ris.org.in/pdf/Trans%20Report.pdf

26. See “Joint Statement on the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar”, 28 May 2012, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Prime Minister's Office at http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=84517

27. “India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task Force Meeting on the Trilateral Highway Project”, Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, September 11, 2012 at http://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/20541/IndiaMyanmarThailand+Joint+Task+Force+Meeting+on+the+Trilateral+Highway+Project

28. “Myawady-Kawkareik new Asia road opened despite skirmishes”, Eleven, 31 August 2015 athttp://elevenmyanmar.com/local/myawady-kawkareik-new-asia-road-opened-despite-skirmishes

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The Road to Mekong: the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project

29. See “Beautiful Words, Ugly Actions: The Asian Highway in Karen State, Burma/Myanmar” at http://www.burmapartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/beautiful_words_ugly_ actions_-_english_for_web.pdf

30. “$100m loan for Kayin road: ADB”, The Myanmar Times, 13 November 2015, at http://www.mmtimes.com/ index.php/business/17619-100m-loan-for-kayin-road-adb.html

31. See official website of Ircon Infrastructure & Services Limited (IrconISL ) at http://www.irconisl.com/

32. See official website of Ircon International Limited (IRCON) at www.ircon.org

33.`“Notice Inviting Bid: Bid/Package no IrconISL/1021/Tender/75/MEA-TKK-Bridges”, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 19 April, 2016 at http://www.mea.gov.in/Images/attach/ 1_NIT_19_04_2016.pdf

34. Also see “Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for selection of a Contractor for Construction of 69 Bridges including Approach Roads on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa Road Section of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar on Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Mode”, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 19 April, 2016 at http://www.mea.gov.in/tenderdetail.htm?2452/TenderDetail

35. “Our bulldozers, our rules: China's foreign policy could reshape a good part of the world economy”, The Economist, 2 July, 2016 at http://www.economist.com/news/china/21701505-chinas-foreign-policy-could-reshape-good-part-world-economy-our-bulldozers-our-rules

36. See “Development Partnership Administration”, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India at https://www.mea.gov.in/development-partnership-administration.htm

37. “Myanmar seeks BRO help to construct bridges”, The Deccan Herald, September 27, 2012 at http://www.deccanherald.com/content/281566/myanmar-seeks-bro-help-construct.html

38. See official website of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation official at http://dfccil.gov.in/ dfccil_app/home.jsp

39. See official website of National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited at http://nhidcl.com/

40. See official website of Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited at http://www.bbnl.nic.in/

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IMT highway: Meghalaya-Myanmar project likely to start next monthThe government is likely to kick-start work on highway from Meghalaya to Myanmar, as part of the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral pact, from next monthLast Published: Tue, May 30 2017. 06 29 PM IST

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TOPICS: IMT HIGHWAY INDIA–MYANMAR–THAILAND TRILATERAL HIGHWAY MEGHALAYA-MYANMAR PROJECT NITIN GADKARI MYANMAR BANGLADESH WATERWAY

Mumbai: To strengthen connectivity with Southeast Asia, the government is likely to kick-start work on highway from Meghalaya to Myanmar, as partof the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral pact, from next month.

“We will probably start work on Meghalaya to Myanmar project from next month. The cost of the project is Rs5,000 crore,” road transport, highwaysand shipping minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters in Mumbai. India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on a 1,400km long highway that would linkthe country with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, a move which would give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourismamong the countries.

Further, addressing the conclave on green ports and oil spill management here, the Union minister said the government is planning a waterwayconnectivity up to Myanmar via Bangladesh using Brahmaputra river, and expects the project to be completed soon. “Waterways are more cost effectivethan roads and railways and so any goods required to be traded to Myanmar or Bangladesh could be done in a very cost effective manner. This will finishbefore 2018,” Gadkari said.

With the Cabinet approving Rs2,000 crore from a central fund for development of water transport, operationalising at least 10 of the 111 nationalwaterways by next year is on top of the government’s agenda. Massive work worth Rs5,000 crore is already underway on Ganga (1,620km), with WorldBank assistance, which is the National Waterway No 1. The work includes development of three multi-modal hubs at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Haldiain West Bengal and Sahebganj in Bihar.

Pitching for environment-friendly initiatives, Gadkari also said that the country could be flooded with electric commercial and passenger vehicles byDecember, as a move to curb dependence on crude oil and cut emissions. He noted that India needs to encourage electric as well as bio-diesel andethanol-fuelled vehicles.

On concerns on lack of infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, the minister said, “In Nagpur we started electric vehicles now we have 10 electriccharging stations... so the technology is there and if we have more vehicles we will get more charging stations.”

Nagpur on Tuesday earned the distinction of becoming the country’s first city with a fleet of 200 electric vehicles, including taxis, buses, e-rickshaw andautos. Gadkari also suggested that shipping corporations should explore use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative source of fuel to save oncosts.

The minister also told reporters that he would discuss lowering the goods and services tax (GST) rates on hybrid vehicles with the finance ministry.Under the GST rates, hybrid cars, which are considered eco-friendly, are slated to attract a 15% cess over and above peak rate of 28%, same as those oflarge luxury cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

First Published: Tue, May 30 2017. 06 29 PM IST

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အိႏၵိယႏုိင္ငံဟာ ျမန္မာ၊ ကေမၻာဒီးယား၊ လာအုိ၊ ဗီယက္နမ္တုိ႔နဲ႔ ကားလမ္းေဖာက္တဲ့ စီမံကိန္းကုိ စတင္ အေကာင္းအထည္ေဖာ္ ေတာ့ မွာ ျဖစ္ၿပီး အဲဒီကားလမ္းနဲ႔ ယွဥ္ၿပီး ရထားလမ္းပါ တည္ေဆာက္ဖုိ႔ စီစဥ္ေနပါတယ္။

အေရွ႕ေတာင္အာရွ ၄ ႏုိ္င္ငံ ကုန္းလမ္းေၾကာင္းကေန အိႏၵိယကုိ ဆက္သြယ္ေပးမယ့္ ဒီ ကားလမ္းေဖာက္ဖုိ႔အတြက္ ၄ လတာ ေလလံ ေခၚၿပီးတဲ့ ေနာက္ အိႏၵိယအမ်ဳိးသား အေ၀းေျပးလမ္း အုပ္ခ်ဳပ္ေရးဌာန - NHAI ကPunj Lloyd နဲ႔ Varaha Infra ဆုိတဲ့ ဖက္စပ္ ကုမၸဏီကုိ ၿပီးခဲတ့ဲ့ သီတင္းပတ္က ကန္ထရုိက္ ခ်ေပးလုိက္ၿပီ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ အဲဒီ ဖက္စပ္ကုမၸဏီအေနနဲ႔ အိႏၵိယ-ျမန္မာ-ထုိင္း ၃ ႏုိင္ငံကုိ ဆက္စပ္ေပးမယ့္ ကေလး၀-ယာဂီ ၂ လမ္းသြား အေ၀းေျပးလမ္းကုိ ေဖာက္ေပးမွာ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။

ဒီ အေ၀းကားလမ္းမႀကီးဟာ ျမန္မာႏုိင္ငံကုိျဖတ္ၿပီး ထုိင္းႏုိင္ငံအထိ ေဖာက္မွာ ျဖစ္တဲ့ အတြက္ အိႏၵိယနဲ႔ အာဆီယံႏိုင္ငံေတြအၾကား ဆက္သြယ္ေပးမယ့္ ေပါင္းကူး လမ္းမႀကီး ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ အိႏၵိယနဲ႔ အာဆီယံႏုိင္ငံေတြအၾကားက ကုန္သြယ္မႈ ပမာဏဟာ အေမရိကန္ေဒၚလာ ၇၀ ဘီလီယံအထိ ရွိေနတာေၾကာင့္ ဒါဟာ အိႏၵိယရဲ႕ စတုတၳေျမာက္ အႀကီးဆုံး ကုန္သြယ္ဘက္ အုပ္စုျဖစ္ပါတယ္။

ကီလုိမီတာ ၁၂၀ ရွည္လ်ားတဲ့ ဒီ အေ၀းေျပး လမ္းမႀကီးအတြက္ အိႏၵိယက အေမရိကန္ေဒၚလာ ၂ ဘီလီယံနီးပါး အကုန္အက်ခံ တည္ေဆာက္မွာ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ အလားတူ ၁၃၂ ကီလုိမီတာ ရွည္လ်ားၿပီး ခ်စ္ၾကည္ေရး လမ္းမႀကီးလုိ႔ အမည္ေပးထားတဲ့ အေ၀းေျပးလမ္းကုိ အိႏၵိယက တည္ေဆာက္ထားၿပီး ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ တမူးနဲ႔ ကေလး၀အၾကားက တံတား ၆၉ ခုကုိ ျပန္လည္ မြမ္းမံဖုိ႔အတြက္လည္း တခ်ိန္ထဲမွာ ေဆာင္ရြက္ေနၿပီ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။

Punj-Veraha ဖက္စပ္ကုမၸဏီက ကန္ထရုိက္ကုိ လက္ခံလုိက္ၿပီးရင္ေတာ့ လမ္းေဖာက္ေရးအတြက္ လုိအပ္တဲ့အနည္းဆုံး ေျမေနရာ ၈၀% ရွိေနေရးအတြက္ NHAI က တာ၀န္ရွိသူေတြဟာ ျမန္မာအာဏာပုိင္ေတြနဲ႔ ေတြ႔ဆုံေဆြးေႏြးၾကမွာ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ တဖက္မွာလည္း အိႏၵိယႏုိင္ငံ၊ မီဇုိးရမ္းျပည္နယ္အတြင္းက Zokhawthar နယ္စပ္

အိႏိယ-ျမန္မာ-ထိင္း အေ၀းေျပးလမ္း စေဖာက္ေတာမည္

1/11/2018 အႏိၵယိ-ျမ��ာ-ထ�◌ငိ္◌း ေအ၀းေ◌◌ျပးလမ္◌း ေစဖာက္ေ◌တာမ့ည္

https://burmese.voanews.com/a/india-myanmar-cambodia-lao-vietnam-new-highway-/4198743.html 2/2

ကတဆင့္ အိႏၵိယ-ျမန္မာ-ထုိင္း ၃ ႏုိင္ငံတုိ႔ကုိ ခ်ိတ္ဆက္ေပးမယ့္ ခ်င္းျပည္နယ္အတြင္းက ရိ-တီးတိန္ အေ၀းလမ္းမႀကီးကုိလည္း အိႏၵိယအစုိးရက တည္ေဆာက္ေနၿပီ ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။

1/11/2018 News - India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway soon

https://data2.unhcr.org/en/news/13236 2/3

India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway soon

The Assam Tribune, 22 Oct 2013

URL: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=oct2313/at09 (http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=oct2313/at09)The highway will help in smoother and faster movement of goods between these regions. “We are presently working with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand to develop the trilateral highway which hopefully will becompleted soon,” Sharma said here at a CII function.

The idea of the highway - from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand, via Myanmar - was conceived at the trilateral ministerialmeeting on transport linkages in Yangon in April 2002. It represents a significant step in establishing connectivity between India andSouth East Asian countries.

Myanmar is source of one-third of India’s imports in pulses and one-fifth in timber.

Emphasising on the need to enhance road, air and sea connectivity, Sharma said that India is also working to develop the Kaladanmulti-modal transport corridor which comprises waterway and roadway.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea;it will then link Sittwe to Mizoram via river and road transport.

Sharma said the project and the transport corridor will connect these countries (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Mayanmar) with theNorth Eastern part of India

1/11/2018 News - India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway soon

https://data2.unhcr.org/en/news/13236 3/3

North-Eastern part of India.

The Government is also looking at connecting India and Myanmar through a sea link, he added.

He said: “Connectivity by air, road and sea in important. We have entire North East India which is progressing but still lagging behindthe rest of the country because of geography, constraints of infrastructure.”

Sharma was speaking at the CII’s Business Conclave of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Mayanmar.

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