Na‘Kaladan project will not be affected by Rakhine Stateunrest'

Myanmar’s federal economy and commerce minister U Aung Naing Oo reveals that the connecting road fromPaletwa in Chin State to Zorampu inMizoram State (India) is under construction.

He also asserted that the Indo-Burma  Kaladan   multi modalproject will not beaffected by the unrest in Rakhine State.

Aung Naing Oo informed it while interacting with a group of Indian journalists, reported BETV, a businessonline media outlet.

"The ongoing unrest in Rakhine State will not affect the Kaladan project,” said the Burmese minister.

He also added that as part of the project the construction of Paletwa- Zorampu road is currently going on in afast manner.

India invested about USD 500 million in the Kaladan project, which is carried out by both neighbouringcountries.

Paletwa- Zorampu road is the last part of  Kaladan   projectbeing carried out inside Myanmar.The contract for the 117-kilometer two-laneexpressway was awarded to the Indian company named IRCON international limited.

"The road is being constructed in the western part of Rakhine State and it should be completed soon,"stated the minister, but he did not clarifythe time frame for its completion.

In addition to this, Sittwe port in Rakhine State will be made fully operational very soon. Once it becomesoperational, it will improve connectivityand bilateral trade between India and Myanmar.

India's deputy external affairs minister RK Ranjan Singh opined earlier that the New Delhi sponsoredKaladan project was delayed due tothe political turmoil in Myanmar.