Essar hopes to complete work on Myanmar Sittwe port by June.

Construction contractor Essar Projects Ltd. expects to complete by June 2014 the 'port-cum-inland waterway' part of an India-sponsored project in Myanmar.

The project is of critical economic and strategic importance to India, as it opens a new transport corridor between the North-East states and the rest of the country (and world) through Myanmar.

In an e-mailed response to Business Line, an Essar Project spokesman said that the project was now '70 per cent completed.'

Essar's job involved building the Sittwe port and a jetty at Paletwa and dredging the 158 km of the river Kaladan between the two points, so as to make it navigable. Essar is also to construct and deliver six cargo vessels.

The hull fabrication work is '50 per cent complete,' said Essar.

HBL