Guwahati: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced that the long-awaited Kaladan project, an ambitious venture aimed at reducing the distance between Northeast India and the rest of the country via Myanmar, is scheduled to be operational by 2027.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Monday, Sonowal explained that the project would shorten the distance between Aizawl and Kolkata by 700 kilometers.
"The Sittwe port in Myanmar is ready, and now efforts are underway to establish road connectivity to Aizawl," Sonowal noted. "The entire Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project is expected to be operational by 2027."
As the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sonowal revealed that his ministry is investing Rs 1,000 crore to develop the waterways aspect of the project, with other agencies collaborating on the remaining development.
Highlighting the importance of the Northeastern region, Sonowal stated that it would be instrumental in rejuvenating India’s economic prosperity.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that transformation should occur through transportation," he said. "Following his directives, we aim to develop the Northeast as a pivotal business hub in South Asia, where waterways will play a vital role."
The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project emerged from a joint initiative between India and Myanmar, designed to create a multi-modal transport route. This route is intended to facilitate cargo shipment from India's eastern ports through Myanmar to the Northeast, further integrating the region with Southeast Asia.
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