Shri Holkhomang ,MP initiative for Transport linkage between India- Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore Via Silchar,
Imphal, Moreh etc. come into active progress. Major General B.C. Khanduri, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highway is
keenly interesting in this regard. Speedy step may be taken up after Ministry of External Affairs meeting with their counter part
at Singapore shortly; in which Holkhomang, MP, member of Standing Committee of External Affairs likely take part as delegate.
B.C. Khanduri, Union Minister of Transport and Highway have assured in a written reply to Holkhomang Haokip, MP that,
the Daboka (Silchar )-Imphal- Moreh route which connects Myanmar is already part of the Trans- Asia Highway which extended
to Thailand and Singapore. This route conforms to minimum standards laid down for the Asian Highway network.
Nevertheless, the same is being developed further in phases keeping in view the availability of funds. Therefore, the completion
of the East- West corridor (target date of completion December 2007), the Indian portion of the road connecting Porbandar
(Saurashtra) to Singapore will have an equivalent of Highway as of the Trans Asia Highway.
Shri Holkhomang, however, welcome the Union Transport Minister’s decision to extend Trans Asia Highway via Silchar-Imphal –Moreh,
tilting from Silchar via Bangladesh already announced by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.
However, with due consideration of present Indo-Bangladesh relations, pressure mounted from Nagaland and Bodos from Assam, the proposed route of Indian portion of Trans Asia highway has a modification to Guwahati- Daboca-Dimapur-Imphal- Moreh-Myanmar. Silchar-Imphal- Moreh- Myanmar route for trans Asia Highway has been cancelled.
This is the continuity step of India- Myanmar-Thailand Ministerial meeting on Transport linkage ten years ago. The meeting
discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to transport linkages among the three countries, including the possibility
of constructing a new highway linking the three countries with a view to enhance trade and commerce, Investment, Tourism
and people to people contact, so as to further contribute to the economic development of the three countries and
complementary to BIMST-EC, Mekong Ganga co-operation as well as the ASEAN- India dialogue.
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