Govt. of India undertaking construction works of 69 bridges in Myanmar

The government of India is currently undertaking construction works of 69 World War era bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section in Myanmar, according to Sweta Singh, first secretary (Eco & Com) & head of chancery of Indian Embassy at Yangon, Myanmar.

First secretary Sweta was interacting with a team of Manipur media who are currently on a weeklong DIPR Manipur sponsored first ever press conducted tour in a foreign country (Myanmar) to explore possible ways to improve the relationship between the people living across the border in the wake of India’s act East policy, at Yangon on Wednesday, reports reaching here said.

The Manipur media headed by IPR Director Heisnam Balkrishna was accompanied by Convenor of state Level Committee for Actualisation of Act East Policy RK Shivachandra and his team.

Responding to a question on the slow progress of the construction work, first secretary Sweta said that the construction works will start once the rainy season is over in Myanmar as the rain continues till end of September.

According to sources available here the construction work is scheduled to be completed in 36 months.

On the other hand Indian official who hails from Haryana also admitted that the government of India is still negotiating for a Motor Vehicles Agreement with Myanmar for facilitating movement of vehicles across their borders after the opening of entry and exit land route apart from other projects,

She said, “Signing of Motor Vehicles Agreement with Myanmar would be a bigger step. Once the agreement is ready not only the people but vehicles can go across the border.”  “But that is still under negotiation,” she said.

Reports said Myanmar has conveyed that it would proceed with this agreement once it has comprehensively reviewed the implementation of similar arrangements it has with other countries.

Meanwhile according to experts, the connectivity had to be seamless for a smooth trade to take place under the Act East policy of the Government.

India had in 2015 proposed seamless movement of cargo, scheduled (bus) and non-scheduled (private) passenger vehicles between Moreh in Manipur and Mae Sot in Thailand. This was similar to the Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal motor-vehicles pact inked outside SAARC in June 2015.

The much awaited India-Myanmar border land road was formally opened by exchanging warm welcome on both sides of the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge along the International border on August 8.

Besides the business summit of the two countries to be held sometime in the October this year, she said. But the final date of the business summit is yet to be fixed.  The focus is now on medical tourism, education sectors as well, because many Myanmar youths going abroad for education, she said.

Interestingly there is also a proposal for introduction of flight between Manipur and Myanmar cities for better connectivity. The ministry of civil aviation has been apprised about it, she added.

In their remarks, IPR Director Balkrishna expressed better media understanding across the border while Shivachandra draws the attention of the authorities to take up pilgrimage as an initiative to reduce the financial burden by Myanmarese while visiting Bodhgaya in India.