In a gesture aimed at making the Kaladan river navigable and allowing big ships to enter upstream into Mizoram from Myanmar’s Sittwe port, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar will venture into the waters of the Kaladan river in a boat near the Indo-Myanmar border on February 13. Aiyar’s boat ride is significant considering that India is seeking to create an alternate route to Northeastern region by setting up the Rs 545 crore Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport project, which would allow direct multi-modal connectivity to the northeastern region bypassing Bangladesh.Severe pressure on the Siliguri Corridor and Bangladesh’s continued intransigence in providing India transit rights through its territory to the northeastern region are the primary drivers behind the project.Aiyar, who will reach Mizoram on February 12, may also undertake an aerial survey of the Kaladan river as it flows into Myanmar. He is scheduled to visit Hruitezawl, the site proposed by the Mizoram Government for tax-collection on goods coming in from the Myanmar side. Further, Aiyar will visit Hmawngbu, the site proposed by technical consultants RITES for Indo-Myanmar trade centre.The Ministry of External Affairs has decided to fund the Kaladan project and hand it over to the Myanmar side on completion. The Framework Agreement and Protocols for facilitation of transit transport and joint maintenance and administration of the project are likely to be signed in the first week of April.The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seaboard and Sittwe port in Myanmar and then through riverine transport and by road to Mizoram, thereby providing an alternate route for transport of goods to the Northeast. Once complete, the project will provide connectivity between India and Myanmar, brightening chances of development of trade between the two countries.The project involves development of a trade route between the two countries along the river Kaladan which is navigable from its confluence point with the Bay of Bengal near Sittwe up to Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) in Myanmar, on its north. Beyond this, the river is not navigable owing to shallow water depth and frequent rapids. While transportation by road is proposed for this stretch, the option of blasting the rocks is being explored to make it navigable in order to give big ships direct access into Mizoram. As of now, the plan is to have waterway transportation from Sittwe port to Kaletwa and road transport from Kaletwa to Indo-Myanmar border. From the Indo-Myanmar border, road will be constructed up to NH-54 in Mizoram. The work for upgradation of port and waterway and construction of road from Kaletwa to Indo-Myanmar border are expected to be completed by 2011-12.
