Dibrugarh: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal will be receiving the first Indian cargo ship at Sittwe Port in Myanmar on May 9, 2023.
Addressing a press conference here, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeast India remains at the forefront of India’s developmental agenda. As we stand on this historic threshold, when the landlocked Northeast India will finally have a much shorter access to the International Sea Route, it would not have been possible without the visionary proposition of ‘Act East’ by Narendra Modi ji. Due to Modiji’s commitment to the progress and prosperity of the Northeast region, we have been able to spearhead with speedy execution of the Sittwe port in Myanmar,”.
“With an aim to boosting the trade prospect of Northeast India in the ensuing years. Apart from the Northeast India, this port will also unlock huge commercial potential for Bangladesh,
Bhutan and even Nepal – apart from India and Myanmar – by acting as a bridge with the South East Asia. This is the true reflection of implementation of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ philosophy of Modi ji,” Sonowal added.
Sittwe port development is part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). Once operationalised, the Sittwe port enable multi modal transit connectivity with the South East
Asia. Sittwe Port has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the construction and operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility on Kaladan river connecting the Sittwe port in Myanmar with the state of Mizoram in India.
“Once fully operationalised, Kaladaan Multi Modal Transport TP will provide alternate connectivity from Eastern coast of India to the Northeastern states through the Sittwe port. This is a far more feasible route
for the trade and commerce of Northeast India, than the existing route via Siliguri to Kolkata, saving time,money and excelling efficiency,” Union minister stated.
He further added, “Cost of transportation of goods from Kolkata to Aizwal was see drop of more than 50% in cost and time when the cargo is sent from Kolkata to Sittwe onto Palletwa and after that via road to Aizwal and the whole of Northeast India. Similarly, goods from Kolkata to Agartala will incur much lesser cost and time via this route. While the length of road from Kolkata to Agartala is around 1600 kms and takes 4 days via roadways, the Sittwe to Chittagong to Sarboom to Agartala will be done in 2 days, saving cost and time. In addition to reduction of traffic on the road, the use of marine transport will considerably bring down environmental cost of transport with drop in fossil fuel carbon emission. This is a wonderful thing which will not only help us economically and environmentally,”.
“The Port will open up new opportunities for India’s Northeast as it will be able to use an alternate and more feasible route for trade and transit and also, for Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State, will further enhance trade and commerce between the two countries and the wider region,” Sonowal added.
Union MoS Rameswar Teli, Dibrugarh Municipal Board(DMB) chairman Saikat Parta and other senior BJP leaders were present at the press meet.
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