Gadkari: Mizoram-Myanmar Road Link Set for November Completion

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed on Monday that a cross-border road, part of the ambitious Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), will connect south Mizoram's Lawngtlai district with Myanmar's Sittwe port and is set to be completed by November this year. Addressing a rally in West Phaileng, Dampa assembly constituency in Mizoram's Mamit district, which shares its border with Bangladesh, Gadkari mentioned that the 26-km road project carries a cost of Rs. 1,132 crore.

"The road under the Kaladan project will be completed by November and it will be helpful to connect

Myanmar's Sittwe port," he stated. Gadkari, who holds the position of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, emphasized the importance of developing infrastructure and communication to foster comprehensive development.

He added, "If the infrastructure is good, we get investment in industry and agriculture, by which we can create jobs. And by creating jobs, we can eradicate poverty, which is the basic principle behind development."

Gadkari also disclosed the initiation of a Rs. 20,000-crore road project aimed at connecting Mizoram with Nagaland, Manipur in the northeastern region, and the international boundary of Myanmar.|

In addition to this, the minister highlighted the progress made in expanding national highways, pointing out that during his tenure, the length of national highways had grown from 986 kilometers in 2014 to 1,478 kilometers in 2023. He noted that around 355 kilometers of road construction, with a cost of Rs. 8,000 crore, had been completed in Mizoram since he took charge of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Gadkari also announced the expected completion of a 373-km road project between Aizawl and Tuipang in the southern part of Mizoram by June of the following year. This Rs. 7,361-crore project will connect six districts of Mizoram, including Aizawl and Serchhip, while also establishing a link with Myanmar. The project is anticipated to foster economic growth, trade, and employment opportunities.

To alleviate traffic congestion in the state capital, the Centre is planning to construct an Aizawl bypass road at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,500 crore. The project, which includes a 35-km stretch and a 2.5-km tunnel, is slated for completion by December 2025.

BS