9. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) -
The purpose of the project is connecting the landlocked area of Northeast India with the sea via western Myanmar and open up trade routes to Southeast Asia. The Framework Agreement was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar and the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India during the goodwill visit of Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in April 2008 (MPA, 2010).
The project will firstly connect Kolkata seaport in east part of India, with the seaport in Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine state in west part of Myanmar, a total distance of 539 km. It will then link Sittwe to the state Mizoram in Northeastern India via river and road transport. The project is aimed at reducing the route of Aigawl-Silehar-Siliguri-Kolkata that is 1,700 km long. The equipment and materials from India were supplied and the construction work was started in December 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2013. Plans have been made for 50,000-tonne ocean liners to berth at Sittwe deep seaport that will cost US$ 120 million. As part of the project, the border road of Lungtian and Paletwa has been built.