New Delhi (Agencies): India’s ambitious Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), aimed at enhancing connectivity between Kolkata and Mizoram through Myanmar, has hit a significant roadblock. The project, which was estimated to cost around $500 million, has been stalled after the Arakan Army took control of Rakhine State, including the crucial town of Paletwa.
The KMTTP involves connecting the port of Kolkata with the port of Sittwe in Rakhine State, and then linking Sittwe to Mizoram via the Kaladan river and road. However, the ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military junta has disrupted the progress of the project.
A senior opposition figure from Myanmar stated, “There is no way that any connectivity project can take place in Rakhine State right now as the AA has established control in almost all the major towns and supply routes. As a result, the Kaladan project too has almost died as Paletwa is essential for this project and Paletwa is no longer in control of the military junta.”
The project, which began in 2010 with a deadline of 2014, has faced multiple delays due to various issues, including the Rohingya crisis and political instability in Myanmar. The recent capture of Paletwa by the Arakan Army has further complicated the situation, making it difficult to resume construction on the highway stretch from Paletwa to Zorinpui at the India-Myanmar border.
The KMTTP is a key component of India’s Act East Policy, aimed at providing an alternative route to its landlocked northeastern states. The project’s completion is crucial for reducing transportation costs and time, as the current route through the narrow Siliguri Corridor is both time-consuming and expensive.