• Burmese
Friday, June 20, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

India’s Kaladan Project in Myanmar Faces Fresh Hurdles 

Rajeev Bhattacharyya by Rajeev Bhattacharyya
June 15, 2022
in Burma, Factiva, News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0 0
A A
India’s Kaladan Project in Myanmar Faces Fresh Hurdles 

Landowners in Mizoram's Lawngtlai demand compensation for the Kaladan project

4.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New Delhi’s ambitious Kaladan project in Myanmar, aimed at providing an alternate outlet to India’s landlocked northeastern region, continues to suffer from glitches.  

The latest development that could further delay the project is the Indian government’s termination of its contract with a joint venture of Engineers Projects India Limited (EPIL) and C & C Construction Co. Ltd., which was tasked to execute the road component in Myanmar.     

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed the development in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act (RTI), but did not mention the reason that prompted the government to arrive at the decision.   

RelatedPosts

Timeline: Key Events in the Life of Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Updated Timeline: Key Events in the Life of Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

June 17, 2025
6.3k
Myanmar Army Closes in on Key TNLA-Held Town of Nawnghkio

Myanmar Army Closes in on Key TNLA-Held Town of Nawnghkio

June 10, 2025
985
12,000 Kyats a Day: The Illusion of a Living Wage in Myanmar’s Factories

12,000 Kyats a Day: The Illusion of a Living Wage in Myanmar’s Factories

May 27, 2025
1.3k

While EPIL is a firm under the Indian government, C & C Construction operates out of its office at Gurgaon near New Delhi. An official pinned the blame on the “uncertain situation in Myanmar” that might have created a situation prompting the government to terminate the contract with the twin firms.  

In 2019, 10 people including four Indians and a Myanmar lawmaker were abducted by the Arakan Army from two boats while traveling from Paletwa to Kyauktaw. Two among the Indian abductees were employees of EPIL.  

It is not known if the government plans to ink an agreement with a new firm or firms for completion of the 109-km road component of the project connecting the river terminal in Chin State’s Paletwa to Zorinpui in India’s Mizoram on the border with Myanmar. According to media reports, the consultant for the road component—Ircon Infrastructure & Services Limited (IRCONISL)—has been permitted to engage local contractors for completion of the project.  

The Kaladan project in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai / Rajeev Bhattacharyya

The other components of the project have already been completed in Myanmar, including the construction of the Sittwe Port on the Kaladan River mouth in Rakhine State, a river terminal at Paletwa and dredging of the Kaladan River.

India and Myanmar entered into a framework agreement in 2008 for the project aimed at creating a multi-modal transport route for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the northeastern region of India through Mizoram. It will link Kolkata with Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine State over the Bay of Bengal spanning over 500 km.

Since the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India’s grant assistance to Myanmar. In 2015 the Indian government gave its approval for the revised cost estimate of approximately 29 billion rupees (US$371.5 million or about 688 billion kyats) for the project.  

Several deadlines have been missed since the execution of the project commenced in 2010. The next deadline is 2023 but completing the project in the existing circumstances appears to be difficult.  

In Mizoram, the delay has been caused by a demand for compensation by landlords who claim the highway passes over their lands.  Many among them have been paid by the government but there are more awaiting compensation. The controversy is over a plot of 40 acres (about 16 hectares) in the village of Zochachhuah near the border in Lawngtlai. 

“The process of paying compensation to the landlords is still on and we hope to complete everything within two months,” said Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Amol Srivastava.  

Once completed, the 87-km highway between Zorinpui on the border and the district headquarters of Lawngtlai would certainly be one of the best in India’s northeast. However, the highway beyond Lawngtlai (National Highway 54) is narrow and would be unable to handle a large volume of traffic if trade picks up with Myanmar.  

It might take a long time to implement the plan to widen the highway as far as Silchar in Assam, which is the starting point of the East-West Corridor.   

At a recent conclave in Guwahati, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that New Delhi was determined to complete the Kaladan project. It is learnt that a slew of meetings have been convened between the Indian Embassy in Myanmar and the junta since the coup last year.    Subsequently, it was decided to engage local contractors for the construction of the road from Paletwa to Zorinpui on the border.  

Rajeev Bhattacharyya is a senior journalist in Assam, India.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: contractIndiajoint ventureKaladan Multimodal ProjectMyanmarroad
Rajeev Bhattacharyya

Rajeev Bhattacharyya

Rajeev Bhattacharyya is a senior journalist in Assam, India.

Similar Picks:

Five-Star Casino Resort on Myanmar Tropical Island Runs Out of Luck
Burma

Five-Star Casino Resort on Myanmar Tropical Island Runs Out of Luck

by The Irrawaddy
February 6, 2024
19.2k

U Kyaw Lwin ran his casino resort on the visa-free island for more than 10 years before facing arrest in...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta’s Central Bank Had $6.8 Bn in Reserves at 14 Int’l Banks in March
Myanmar’s Crisis & the World

Myanmar Junta’s Central Bank Had $6.8 Bn in Reserves at 14 Int’l Banks in March

by The Irrawaddy
August 21, 2023
19k

Singapore banks held 67% of the junta’s foreign reserves; in a bank document seen by The Irrawaddy, the junta praises...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Blackout Junta Seeks Solar Power Aid From Neighbors
Burma

Myanmar’s Blackout Junta Seeks Solar Power Aid From Neighbors

by The Irrawaddy
February 14, 2025
14.9k

China and India have been approached for help with solar power projects, the electricity minister says, as the country’s chronic...

Read moreDetails
UK Hits Myanmar Border Guard Force Colonel, Two Others, With Sanctions
Burma

UK Hits Myanmar Border Guard Force Colonel, Two Others, With Sanctions

by The Irrawaddy
December 9, 2023
10.7k

Saw Chit Thu and two others linked to a massive gambling project in Karen State were sanctioned over allegations of...

Read moreDetails
China and the Wars in Myanmar
Guest Column

China and the Wars in Myanmar

by Bertil Lintner
January 21, 2025
10.7k

Recent truces declared by ethnic armies show that China is still the only outside power that can intervene in Myanmar,...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Rejects Bangladeshi Call for Rohingya State
Burma

Myanmar Junta Rejects Bangladeshi Call for Rohingya State

by Maung Kavi
May 2, 2025
10.4k

A political party in Bangladesh says a Rohingya-majority area of Rakhine State should become an independent state for returning refugees.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
When Think-Tanks Get Terrorism Wrong: The IEP and Myanmar

When Think-Tanks Get Terrorism Wrong: The IEP and Myanmar

Myanmar Regime Troops Torch Villages and Hold Civilians Hostage in Sagaing

Myanmar Regime Troops Torch Villages and Hold Civilians Hostage in Sagaing

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

1 week ago
1.8k
Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

1 week ago
1.8k

Most Read

  • Myanmar’s Aging Leaders Continue to Suffer in Junta Jails

    Myanmar’s Aging Leaders Continue to Suffer in Junta Jails

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mon Groups Vow to Boost Attacks on Myanmar junta

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thai PM Faces Growing Calls to Quit in Cambodia Phone Row

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.