Guwahati: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday announced that the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, a strategic infrastructure initiative connecting India and Myanmar, is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
The project, once completed, will significantly reduce the travel distance between the Northeast and the rest of India.
Speaking at a press conference, Sonowal said the distance between Aizawl and Kolkata will be cut by approximately 700 km with the completion of the project.
He informed that the Sittwe Port in Myanmar is already ready for use, and the remaining work is focused on establishing road connectivity to Aizawl.
Sonowal, who heads the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the Centre is investing Rs. 1,000 crore in developing the waterway segment of the project.
Other connected infrastructure is being handled by relevant agencies.
He emphasized the Northeast’s pivotal role in India’s economic resurgence and its potential to emerge as a business gateway to South and Southeast Asia.
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“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that transformation must come through transportation. Following this vision, we aim to develop the Northeast as a vital commercial hub in South Asia, and robust waterway infrastructure is essential to achieving that goal,” he said.
The Kaladan project, jointly conceived by India and Myanmar, seeks to establish an integrated transport corridor for moving cargo from India’s eastern ports to Myanmar and further into the Northeast.
It forms part of a larger strategy to improve regional connectivity and strengthen trade ties with Southeast Asia.
