India-Myanmar-Thailand
India is providing funding for both the projects under grant assistance to the Government of Myanmar. Credit: Kashisharora11.

The Government of India has released Rs1.93bn ($27.68m) for the construction of Kalewa-Yagyi road section on the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.

It has also released Rs48.4m ($0.69m) out of the approved cost of Rs3.71bn ($53.25m) for the construction of 69 bridges along with approach road on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section.

Roughly Rs14.59bn ($209.12m) has been earmarked for the Kalewa-Yagyi road.

The 1,360km India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is an initiative that will connect the three countries.

Contracts for the Kalewa-Yagyi and TKK sections were awarded in May 2018 and November 2017 respectively.

“Inter-governmental negotiations are currently underway between India, Myanmar and Thailand for a Motor Vehicles Agreement.”

Both projects are scheduled to be completed within three years from the date of commencement.

The government is providing funding to the Government of Myanmar for the projects under grant assistance.

Inter-governmental negotiations are currently underway between India, Myanmar and Thailand for a Motor Vehicles Agreement, along with protocols for regulation and facilitation of movement of cargo and passenger vehicular traffic.

The information was provided by Road Transport and Highways union minister Mansukh L Mandaviya in Lok Sabha.

India-Myanmar-Thailand highway project is likely to strengthen trade and commerce in the ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of Southeast Asia.

The highway is being constructed under India’s Look East policy that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand through Myanmar.