Northeast

'Enhance Act East Policy with construction of alternative Asian Highway between Manipur's Kuirei to Homalin, Myanmar'

AIM stated that in order to enhance the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy, it is pertinent to construct a highway between Kuirei via Khamasom Phungdhar to Homalin.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 30 Nov 2021, 9:40 am

(Representational Image: Pixabay)
(Representational Image: Pixabay)

A letter of proposal to permit the construction of alternative Asian Highway between Kuirei via Khamasom Phungyhar, Ukhrul district, India to Homalin, Myanmar by Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur and social worker, Awungshi Philip Soso of Khamasom Phungdhar, was given to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on November 28.

In the letter, they stated that Homalin or Hommalinn is a town in North-Western Myanmar in Hkamti District of the Sagaing Region. The town lies on the Chindwin River and is served by Homalin Airport, they stated, adding that gold has been found in the river sand of Uyu River, a major tributary of the Chindwin River that flows close to Homalin.

Homalin lies close to the Indian border. The main population are Shanni, Kathe and Naga ethnic groups residing in Homalin, they stated, adding that the main artery road in the region is the Thabeikkyin-Phaungbyin-Homalin-Hkamti Road, which is 330 miles (530 km) long.

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It is being extended, and bridges are being built by a Road Construction Special Group-10 to make it an all-weather road. A suspension bridge, 1000 ft long and 16 ft wide was constructed across the Uyu River linking Homalin with the Thetkekyin-Phaungpyin-Homalin-Khamti Road.

Country boats, locally known as landwins, also ply in the waters of the Chindwin River to Homalin, the letters stated. Both Irrawaddy and its major tributary, the Chindwin River, have Inland Water Transport facilities.

The Homalin Airport (HOX) in the centre of the Homalin town has flights operating to Yangon and Mandalay and is on the famous tourist circuit, they stated.

Khamasom Phungdhar, on the other hand, is one of the most remote and underdeveloped villages located north of Ukhrul in Ukhrul district, Manipur state, India. The village is known for its richness in vegetation, they stated.

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Khamasom is arguably the only village in northeastern India with a thick virgin forest in the Indo-Burma border stretch and the agricultural products available in the region is purely organic, the letter stated, adding that it is about 7 km from the National Highway of Imphal-Ukhrul-Jessami Road from Kuirei.

In the letter, they also stated that in order to enhance the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy, it is pertinent to construct a highway between Kuirei via Khamasom Phungdhar to Homalin.

It will be the nearest river port of Myanmar from the states of North East India, including Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. As an extended vision of the Act East Policy, the nearest river port will be more economically feasible to conduct Indo-Myanmar trade relations.

 

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First published:

Tags:

road constructionasian highwaykuireikhamasom phungdharhomalin

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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