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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
[[File:Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.svg|thumb|Route map of the transport project]]
The '''Kaladan Road Project'''<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Purushothaman|first=Vakkom|url=http://tntmagazine.in/news/mizoram/kaladan-multi-modal-transit-transport-project-to-link-sea-route-in-myanmar-with-mizoram/|title=Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project to link sea route in Myanmar with Mizoram|newspaper=The Northeast Times|access-date=11 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415053036/http://tntmagazine.in/news/mizoram/kaladan-multi-modal-transit-transport-project-to-link-sea-route-in-myanmar-with-mizoram/|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> is a US$484 million project connecting the eastern Indian seaport of [[Kolkata]] with [[Sittwe]] seaport in [[Rakhine State]], Myanmar by sea. In Myanmar, it will then link Sittwe seaport to [[Paletwa]] in [[Chin State]] via the [[Kaladan river]] boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to [[Mizoram]] state in Northeast India.
The route of the project around Paletwa and along the [[Kaladan river]] is troubled with [[Chin people#History and politics|Chin conflict]], [[Rohingya conflict]] and militant groups such as [[Arakan Army (Kachin State)|Arakan Army]] and [[Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army]] (ARSA).<ref name=mand4>[https://www.firstpost.com/india/buddhist-refugees-in-mizoram-begin-journey-back-to-myanmar-but-unconfirmed-tales-of-horror-keep-them-on-edge-4383481.html Buddhist refugees in Mizoram begin journey back to Myanmar, but unconfirmed tales of horror keep them on edge], ''First Post''</ref><ref name=mand5>[https://thewire.in/politics/ne-dispatch-home-of-shillong-times-editor-attacked-sikkim-faces-vegetable-shortage NE Displaced people], The Wire.</ref> Among these the ARSA, created by Pakistan's [[Lashkar-e-Toiba]] and has links with [[Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen]] in Bangladesh and the [[Indian Mujahideen]] in India,<ref name=terror1>[https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/myanmar-calling/cid/1461895 Myanmar calling], ''The Telegraph''</ref> was behind the mass killing of Hindu [[Burmese Indians]] in the [[Kha Maung Seik massacre]].<ref name="amnesty">{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-myanmar-rohingya-idUKKCN1BZ0RL |title=Myanmar says bodies of 28 Hindu villagers found in Rakhine State|first=wa Lone, Shoon |last=Naing |date=25 September 2017|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref name="AmnestyInt">{{cite web|title=Myanmar: New evidence reveals Rohingya armed group massacred scores in Rakhine State | url = https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/05/myanmar-new-evidence-reveals-rohingya-armed-group-massacred-scores-in-rakhine-state/|website=www.amnesty.org}}</ref>
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Paletwa is less than {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} from the Bangladesh border.
==
===Sea–river–road route===▼
The project has several sections combining multi-modes of transport:<ref>[http://www.mdoner.gov.in/content/introduction-1 Multi-modal project introduction]</ref>▼
# {{convert|539|km|abbr=on}} shipping route from seaport of [[Kolkata]] in India to [[Sittwe]] seaport in [[Myanmar]] via [[Bay of Bengal]]. This sea route has been operational for several decades. Port upgrade to handle 20,000 ton vessels, from previously capacity of 40,000 ton has been '''completed.'''▼
# {{convert|158|km|abbr=on}} river boat route from [[Sittwe]] seaport to Inland Water Terminal (IWT) and hydro power project at [[Paletwa]] jetty via [[Kaladan river]] in [[Myanmar]]. River dredging and jetty upgrade completed in June 2017.<ref name=biz1/><ref name=mand3>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/india-ramps-myanmar-ties-gain-foothold-asean.html|title=India ramps up Myanmar ties to gain foothold in ASEAN|date=15 May 2018|website=The Myanmar Times}}</ref> There is at least one [[Lock (water navigation)|river lock]] for navigation.<ref name=lock1>[http://stsfor.org/content/indias-infrastructure-development-projects-myanmar-game-changer-region-part-2-3 India's connectivity to Myanmar].</ref> Six barges of 300 ton capacity each were handed over to Myanmar by the government of India.<ref name=ton1>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cabinet-clears-revised-cost-for-kaladan-multi-modal-transit-transport-project-115101400905_1.html Delay in Kaladan project], ''Business Standard'', 2018.</ref> '''Completed.'''<ref name=update2/> Sittwe Special Economic Zone at Ponnagyun town {{convert|60|km|mi}} north from Sittwe upstream of [[Kaladan River]] at Ponnagyun town is being built by India on 1000 acres.<ref name=sez1/><ref name=biz1/>▼
# {{convert|62|km|abbr=on}} two-lane in each direction (4 lanes total) road route from IWT [[Paletwa]] to [[Zochachhuah|Zochawchhuah]](India)–Zorinpui (Myanmar) at Indo-Myanmar border in [[Myanmar]]. Construction contract of INR1600 crore (16 billion) was awarded to [[Ircon International|Ircon]] in June 2017,<ref name=biz1/><ref name=mand2/> and construction commenced in April 2018,<ref name=mandalay1>[https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-myanmar-land-border-crossing-open-sushma-swaraj-imphal-mandalay-bus-service-5305229/ Road to Mandalay] ''Indian Express'', June 2018.</ref> after all the necessary approvals were granted by the Myanmar govt in January 2018.<ref name=mand2>[https://thenortheasttoday.com/archive/mizoram-to-get-connected-with-sittwe-port-in-rakhine-state-of-myanmar-via-1600-cr-road/ Mizoram to get connected with Sittwe port].</ref> [[Borders of India#India–Myanmar border|Integrated Customs & Immigration Checkpost]] at Zochawchhuah-Zorinpui has been operational since 2017. Tender for the road upgrade was awarded in 2017, currently under-construction and '''to be completed by December 2019''',<ref name=update2/> though this ambitious deadline is harder to meet and might be missed.<ref name=mand2/> India is also planning to construct a road to connect Paletwa with the [[AH1#Myanmar|Asian Highway AH1]].<ref name=lock1/>▼
# {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} route from Indo-Myanmar border at Zochawchhuah-Zorinpui to Aizawl. From Aizawl it connect to Aizawl-Saiha National Highway at [[Lawngtlai]] in [[Mizoram]], India by road on [[National Highway 54 (India)]] (NH-54), which then continues further to [[Dabaka]] in [[Assam]] via {{convert|850|km|abbr=on}} long NH-54 which in turn is part of the larger [[North–South and East–West Corridor#East-West Corridor|East–West Corridor]] connecting [[North East India]] with the rest of India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arakanrivers.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Kaladan-Mov.png |title=Multi-modal route map |access-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822053547/http://www.arakanrivers.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Kaladan-Mov.png |archive-date=22 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Almost complete (June 2017).<ref name=biz1>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/india-awards-road-contract-to-complete-kaladan-project-in-myanmar/article9723297.ece India awards road contract to complete Kaladan project in Myanmar], ''Business Line'', 9 June 2017.</ref> Awarded, upgrade to this national highway is under-construction and '''to be completed by 2019.'''<ref name=update2/> In June 2017, {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} 2-lane route from Indo-Myanmar border at Zochawchhuah-Zorinpui to [[Tuipang]] is almost complete. From Tuipang, the national highway is being further upgraded from 2-lane to all-weather 4-lane from [[National Highway 54 (India)|NH 54]] [[Lawngtlai]] to [[Aizawl]] in [[Mizoram]].<ref name=biz1/> INR6000 crore (60 billion) was approved to further improve this Zochawchhuah–Zorinpui–Aizawl national highway.<ref name=mand2/> [[Siaha]]–Zochawchhuah–Zorinpui missing section of the highway was under construction (April 2018).<ref name=mand2/> Lomasu to [[Lawngtlai]] is a two-lane highway in each direction (total four lanes) and Lawngtlai to [[Aizawl]]–[[Guwahati]] national highway is being widened to 4 lanes in each direction (total 8 lanes).<ref name=high1>[https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmar-india-appoint-operator-sittwe-port-project.html India appoints post operator], ''Irrawaddy''</ref>▼
===Complementary railway route===▼
This railway route will complement the river–road route of this project in Myanmar-Mizoram:▼
* '''Sittwe–[[Kyaukhtu]] railway in Myanmar, {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} – exists and operational:''' This route has been operational since 2011. To integrate with other routes-network in Myanmar, it will be [[Rail transport in Myanmar#Lines under construction|further extended 311 km by 2021–22]], from Kyaukhtu in north to [[Ann, Myanmar|Ann]] in south and then south-east to [[Minbu]] where it will connect to Myanmar rail network as well as {{convert|1,215|km|abbr=on}} long [[Kyaukpyu|Kyaukpyu port]]–Minbu–Kunming high-speed railway [[Kyaukpyu#Kunming-Kyaukpyu Railway|being planned by China]].<ref>[http://www.idsa.in/backgrounder/myanmar-in-chinas-push-into-the-indian-ocean_jmpaul_120316 Myanmar in China’s Push into the Indian Ocean], Joshy M Paul, March 14, 2016, retrieved 20 January 2017</ref>▼
* '''Kyaukhtu–Zorinpui in Myanmar, {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} – planned but not yet surveyed:''' India has future yet-unapproved plans to fund and construct this missing link.▼
* '''Zochawchhuah (Zorinpui)–[[Sairang]] railway in India, {{convert|375|km|abbr=on}} – being surveyed since Aug-2017:''' Survey for the rail line from [[Sairang]] (Aizawl) to [[Hmawngbuchhuah]] on border near Zochawchhuah–Zorinpui was completed in August 2017 and it will be constructed in future phase.<ref name=railline1>[http://www.powerupconstruction.com/indias-north-east-opensthe-gateway-to-prosperity/ India's north east opened up], PowerUpConstruction.Com</ref>▼
===Other projects – alternate route to northeast India===▼
Compared to the {{convert|1,880|km|abbr=on}} long, congested "Chicken's Neck" [[Siliguri Corridor]], this Kaladan project will almost half the distance to a mere {{convert|950|km|abbr=on}}. As an alternate route (unrelated to the Kaladan Multi-Modal project) to northeast India, India is also [[Borders of India#India–Bangladesh border|developing railway route]] from [[Cox's Bazar]] deep water port to [[South Tripura district]] by rehabilitating the railway link from [[Santirbazar]] in India to [[Feni District|Feni]] in Bangladesh, where a road and rail bridge is being built to connect the "[[Belonia, India]]–[[Parshuram Upazila|Parshuram, Bangladesh]] road and rail crossing checkposts", this will reduce traffic through Sittwe, but will provide strategically redundancy if there is a war with China.<ref>[https://www.firstpost.com/world/as-smart-as-sittwe-going-north-east-by-south-east-6480951.html As Smart as Sittwe: Going North-East by South-East], ''First Post'', 2019.</ref>▼
This project will reduce distance from [[Kolkata]] to [[Sittwe]] by approximately {{convert|1328|km|abbr=on}} and will reduce the need to transport goods through the narrow [[Siliguri]] corridor, also known as [[Chicken's Neck (India)|Chicken's Neck]].
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The project is being piloted and funded by the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]]. The preliminary feasibility studies were carried out by [[RITES|Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES)]]. Construction work on [[Sittwe]] port and the boat jetty in [[Paletwa]], as well as the dredging work, will be executed by the [[Inland Waterways Authority of India]] (IWAI), with Essar Projects Ltd, a division of the [[Essar Group]] appointed in May 2010 as the main contractor.<ref>{{cite web |work=Arakan Rivers |title=Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project|url=http://www.arakanrivers.net/?page_id=135 |access-date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529113016/http://www.arakanrivers.net/?page_id=135 |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project initially faced problems such as underestimation of the road length in [[Myanmar]] and plans to construct hydro-electric projects — [[Chhimtuipui|Chhimtuipui River]] and [[Lungleng River]] — on two tributaries of the [[Kaladan River]] followed by another project downstream. That the first two projects are being built by one public sector undertaking and the third is being constructed by another PSU (Public Sector Unit) has also led to coordination issues. Due to construction of this hydro electrical projects,
In April 2017, the Sitwee port AND IWT Paletwa jetty were ready and operational.<ref name=miz1/> In April 2017, India handed over the operation of completed Sittwe port and Inland Water Terminal at Paletwa to Myanmar. In June 2017, India handed six gas tanker cargo vessels worth US$81.29 million (K110.08 billion) to the Myanmar government to transport gas to north-east India via [[Manipur]]. Work on the port in Sittwe and the IWT in Paletwa, Chin State, is in its final stages, and the six cargo vessels are meant to facilitate transportation of goods from Sittwe to Paletwa. The $81.29 million cost of the vessels was met through a grant from India. The construction work was assigned to IWT in October 2012, the keels were laid in March 2013 and the vessels were launched between April and December 2016. On completion of the tests and trials at Yangon, the vessels reached Sittwe in March 2017. Acceptance trials were completed in April 2017 in Sittwe.<ref name=miz1>[http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/six-cargo-vessels-handed-over-myanmar-india vessels handed over to Myanmar by India], Mizzima, 2 June 2017.</ref>▼
In June 2017, after several upward budget revisions and troubles in finding contractors, the INR1,600-crore (US$250 million) contract has been finally awarded to an Indian company C&C construction for building 109-km road connecting IWT Paletwa river terminal to Zorinpui in Mizoram border. The contractor would open offices at Sittwe, Paletwa and Yangon in Myanmar, mobilise men and machine during the monsoon and start construction after the monsoon in October.<ref name=biz1/>▼
==Route==
▲===Sea–river–road route===
▲The project has several sections combining multi-modes of transport:<ref>[http://www.mdoner.gov.in/content/introduction-1 Multi-modal project introduction]</ref>
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲===Complementary railway route===
{{anchor | Rail }}
▲This railway route will complement the river–road route of this project in Myanmar-Mizoram:
▲* '''Sittwe–[[Kyaukhtu]] railway in Myanmar, {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} – exists and operational:''' This route has been operational since 2011. To integrate with other routes-network in Myanmar, it will be [[Rail transport in Myanmar#Lines under construction|further extended 311 km by 2021–22]], from Kyaukhtu in north to [[Ann, Myanmar|Ann]] in south and then south-east to [[Minbu]] where it will connect to Myanmar rail network as well as {{convert|1,215|km|abbr=on}} long [[Kyaukpyu|Kyaukpyu port]]–Minbu–Kunming high-speed railway [[Kyaukpyu#Kunming-Kyaukpyu Railway|being planned by China]].<ref>[http://www.idsa.in/backgrounder/myanmar-in-chinas-push-into-the-indian-ocean_jmpaul_120316 Myanmar in China’s Push into the Indian Ocean], Joshy M Paul, March 14, 2016, retrieved 20 January 2017</ref>
▲In April 2017, the Sitwee port AND IWT Paletwa jetty were ready and operational.<ref name=miz1/> In April 2017, India handed over the operation of completed Sittwe port and Inland Water Terminal at Paletwa to Myanmar. In June 2017, India handed six gas tanker cargo vessels worth US$81.29 million (K110.08 billion) to the Myanmar government to transport gas to north-east India via [[Manipur]]. Work on the port in Sittwe and the IWT in Paletwa, Chin State, is in its final stages, and the six cargo vessels are meant to facilitate transportation of goods from Sittwe to Paletwa. The $81.29 million cost of the vessels was met through a grant from India. The construction work was assigned to IWT in October 2012, the keels were laid in March 2013 and the vessels were launched between April and December 2016. On completion of the tests and trials at Yangon, the vessels reached Sittwe in March 2017. Acceptance trials were completed in April 2017 in Sittwe.<ref name=miz1>[http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/six-cargo-vessels-handed-over-myanmar-india vessels handed over to Myanmar by India], Mizzima, 2 June 2017.</ref>
▲* '''Kyaukhtu–Zorinpui in Myanmar, {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} – planned but not yet surveyed:''' India has future yet-unapproved plans to fund and construct this missing link.
▲* '''Zochawchhuah (Zorinpui)–[[Sairang]] railway in India, {{convert|375|km|abbr=on}} – being surveyed since Aug-2017:''' Survey for the rail line from [[Sairang]] (Aizawl) to [[Hmawngbuchhuah]] on border near Zochawchhuah–Zorinpui was completed in August 2017 and it will be constructed in future phase.<ref name=railline1>[http://www.powerupconstruction.com/indias-north-east-opensthe-gateway-to-prosperity/ India's north east opened up], PowerUpConstruction.Com</ref>
▲In June 2017, after several upward budget revisions and troubles in finding contractors, the INR1,600-crore (US$250 million) contract has been finally awarded to an Indian company C&C construction for building 109-km road connecting IWT Paletwa river terminal to Zorinpui in Mizoram border. The contractor would open offices at Sittwe, Paletwa and Yangon in Myanmar, mobilise men and machine during the monsoon and start construction after the monsoon in October.<ref name=biz1/>
▲===Other projects – alternate route to northeast India===
▲Compared to the {{convert|1,880|km|abbr=on}} long, congested "Chicken's Neck" [[Siliguri Corridor]], this Kaladan project will almost half the distance to a mere {{convert|950|km|abbr=on}}. As an alternate route (unrelated to the Kaladan Multi-Modal project) to northeast India, India is also [[Borders of India#India–Bangladesh border|developing railway route]] from [[Cox's Bazar]] deep water port to [[South Tripura district]] by rehabilitating the railway link from [[Santirbazar]] in India to [[Feni District|Feni]] in Bangladesh, where a road and rail bridge is being built to connect the "[[Belonia, India]]–[[Parshuram Upazila|Parshuram, Bangladesh]] road and rail crossing checkposts", this will reduce traffic through Sittwe, but will provide strategically redundancy if there is a war with China.<ref>[https://www.firstpost.com/world/as-smart-as-sittwe-going-north-east-by-south-east-6480951.html As Smart as Sittwe: Going North-East by South-East], ''First Post'', 2019.</ref>
==Travel arrangements==
===Zorinpui border crossing===
[[Borders of India#India–Myanmar border|Integrated Customs & Immigration Checkpost]] at [[Lawngtlai district#Zorinpui Integrated Check Post|Zorinpui]] in [[Lawngtlai district]], is already operational since 2017.<ref name=icp4>[https://www.google.com.sg/search?client=firefox-b&dcr=0&ei=lWJCWr3sLcrJvgS0ory4CA&q=zorinpui+lawngtlai+&oq=zorinpui+lawngtlai+&gs_l=psy-ab.3...5050.12763.0.13049.20.20.0.0.0.0.285.2665.0j13j2.15.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..5.10.1914...0j0i67k1j0i131k1j0i10k1j0i13k1.0.d3bPEkKCEM4 India opens two border crossing points with Myanmar, Bangladesh], ''[[Times of India]]'', 1 Oct 2o17.</ref>
===Land border crossing and visa arrangements===
In early 2018, visa agreement were signed for the citizens of two nations to travel by road for education, medical assistance, tourism and other purposes.<ref name=update1/><ref name=update2/> This agreement was operationalised on 9 August 2018.<ref name=mandalay1/> Indians and Myanma citizens with valid passport and vis can pass through two official Land Border Crossings at [[Moreh, India|Moreh]] in Manipur ([[Tamu, Myanmar|Tamu]] in [[Sagaing Region]] of Myanmar) and [[Zokhawthar]] in Mizoram ([[Rikhawdar]] in [[Chin State]] of Myanmar).<ref name=mandalay1/>
===Motor Vehicle Agreement===
In 2015, India proposed a trilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement to facilitate seamless movement of passenger and cargo vehicles among the three countries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plea for Motor vehicle agrement between India and Myanmar|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/plea-for-motor-vehicle-agrement-between-india-and-myanmar/articleshow/57186840.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref> In May 2017, during a visit by Thai officials to Manipur, the state's Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore declared that the draft of the trilateral agreement had already been prepared.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thailand Envoy Visits Manipur|url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/thailand-envoy-visits-manipur/|website=Northeast Today|access-date=1 June 2017|date=28 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Thai delegation visits Manipur|url=http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/thai-delegation-visits-manipur/|website=www.easternmirrornagaland.com|access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> As of May 2018, the signing of Motor vehicle agreement is still pending.<ref name=update2/>
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