India's much-delayed gateway to Southeast Asia is back on track

India's ambitious Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project is a key aspect of its Act East policy. 

When completed, the strategic project will link West Bengal's Haldia port with the Sittwe port in the Rakhine State of Myanmar by sea. It will also connect the Sittwe seaport with Paletwa in the Chin state via the Kaladan river route, and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram’s Lawngtlai. 

However, the Rs 3,200 crore project has seen cost overruns due to the complex land acquisition process, compensation, and insurgents' presence along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The project, which took off in 2010 with components like sea route, waterways and roadways, is expected to be completed by 2023 after failing several deadlines. 

With sea and river routes already finalised, the two countries are working hard to complete the road route with 33 bridges, including eight on the Indian side and remaining on the Myanmarese side. 

All bridges will be of Class 70 grade, which can bear a load of 70 tons. In other words, military equipment like T-90 tanks, surface-to-air missiles and infantry combat vehicles can easily be transported over them. 

Till October 2020, the construction agencies were facing challenges on the Myanmar side, mostly due to armed group like Arakan Army.

China and KMTTP

At the behest of the Communist Party of China, the Myanmar-based terrorist group Arakan Army has been targetting Indian investments with weapons.

"China is attempting Diplo-terrorism for leverage over Myanmar and India through the Arakan Army (AA). This also presents the violent side of the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative, which not only ensnares recipients in debt traps but seeks to bar competitors through violent means by actions by sub-State actors," an expert said.

As per the media report, China has exported $720 million worth of weaponry to the Myanmar Army while supplying funds and weaponry, including shoulder-fired FN-6 and surface-to-air missiles to the Arakan Army.

Besides boosting the infrastructural development in the northeastern states, the strategic project would also provide an alternate route for deploying men and machinery during contingency time. 

Conceived in 2008, the government also had factored-in the potential threat from China as the northeastern part of the country is geographically isolated from mainland India and is only connected by a narrow 'Chicken-Neck' area called the Siliguri Corridor. The corridor is around 200 km long and 60 km wide.

In the last decade, China has aggressively ramped up its infrastructure along the Indian borders. It has also built a road near to Doklam plateau, which reduces the distance by almost half and gives the Chinese the capability to block the Siliguri corridor to cut off the northeast from mainland India. 

In that case, it would also lead to the isolation of crucial three military formations and cut off their supplies of ration, equipment and weapons. China has time and again opposed the Kaladan project and has been supplying arms to insurgent groups in Myanmar. 

However, in November 2020, the Myanmarese Army and the Arakan Army signed a ceasefire. The Arakan Army also asked its cadres to return to their base from the combat zone.   

23 Sector Assam Rifles Commandant Brigadier Digvijay Singh said, "KMMTTP is progressing at a fast pace without any hindrance from the Arakan Army. It will have a huge impact on society both economic as well as on the development of South Mizoram."

It would also reduce the distance by about 1,000 km and the time by 4 days.

Fund crunch

After one of the joint venture partners, who was working on the Zorinpui-Kaletwa stretch in Myanmar, went bankrupt, the project was awarded to another construction firm, ARSS in 2020. Expressing confidence, they said the work would be finalised by the end of 2022. 

Capt TS Negi (Retd), the project coordinator for ARSS, said, "We have to make roads from Zorinpui to Paletwa on the Myanmar side. It is a 48.5 km stretch. Earlier, it was supposed to have been initiate from the Myanmar side. But now we have started from the border side because we have got logistical support from Assam Rifles. The bridge on the border was made by the Assam Rifles and inaugurated by Eastern Army Commander last year."

"We are making roads from Zorinpui at Indo-Myanmar border to Platewa on the Myanmar side. There are multiple challenges in constructing the roads. The terrain is inhospitable, and there's less availability of water and logistical support. We always help the villagers whenever the need arises. We are providing medical facilities. We constructed a football ground for youths. We are trying to eradicate the issues of water scarcity. We also provided ferry services," he said.

"We will complete the project by the end of 2022. Now, there is no hindrance from anyone," Capt Negi said.

Out of the 48.5 km stretch, the construction work on the 5 km stretch from the Indian side has been completed so far.

The road component of the KMTT project includes a new greenfield road project of 109.2 km to be built from Paletwa in Myanmar to Zorinpui on the India-Myanmar border (Mizoram). The road will be double-lane with national highway specifications.

Compensation issue

Part of the reason why the project was delayed was the compensation issue.

When the actual work started, some of the landowners started demanding double the amount they agreed upon. After several rounds of talks, things were sorted out.

Regional prosperity 

Once the project is completed, the international border Zorinpui will then be connected by road with southernmost Mizoram's Lawngtlai town which is 87.18 km away. 

The northeastern states will be integrated with the rest of India through better means of communication, ensuring that the benefits of various central government policies reach people of the region besides fostering cultural exchanges and creating job opportunities. 

Role of Assam Rifles

The Assam Rifles provide security to the investments on the Indian side and also assisting logistically whenever there the need arises. 

Lai Autonomous District Council member and advisor to chief executive member H Lalmuansanga said, "I thank the Assam Rifles for all sorts of assistance in the area. I hope that the cooperation between the Assam Rifles and the locals will solidify further with continued engaging the civic action programme in this area."

Joseph Lalhmingthanga, Secretary of the Young Lai Association, said, "The Assam Rifles have been doing a great job. They are not only guarding the border but also work for the betterment of the local population. They are providing pre-recruitment training to youths for joining the Indian Army. We hope for a long-lasting relationship with the Assam Rifles."

Locals expectations  

H Lalmuansanga said, "This is one of the most backward districts of India. The central government should give focus on this area in its policy. The KMTT project is a gateway to Southeast Asia, and before the project completed, we need to uplift the local people. If you look at the local economic, financial, and educational condition, it is very backward."

"As part of India's Act East Policy, this project is very beneficial for the state of Mizoram and its people. I want to bring the attention of the central government with regards to the development of locals. We want the intake of locals into the Indian Army should be increased. I request the central government to listen to our voices. I hope that the central government not only concentrate on the international strategic policy but also develop the local people," Joseph said.