India, Myanmar, Thailand run survey on mega highway project
Staff Correspondent
India, Myanmar and Thailand have conducted a survey in New Delhi on December 23 for the construction of a 1,360-km long highway connecting the three countries to expand trade, tourism and people-to-people contact. A joint ministerial meeting reviewed the progress the project has so far made, said a press release of High Commission of India. The ministers underscored greater connectivity as a means of strengthening regional economic growth and integration of mutual relations. The meeting discussed route alignment of the highway as recommended by the technical taskforce. Construction of the highway will be complete in three phases. India agreed to consider a line of credit and finance the construction of Chaungma-Yinmabin (30 km) and Lingadaw-Letsgan-Pakokku (48 km), upgradation of Uinmabin-Pale-Lingadaw (50 km) and Bagan-Meiktila (132 km) segments of the highway. Thailand has agreed to finance Thaton-Hpa-an-Kawkareik (136 km) and the Kawkareik-Myawaddy (62 km) sections. Myanmar agreed to finance constructions of all weather intermediate lane approach roads at both ends from Pakokku to Bagan and reconstruction of the weak bridges. The meeting also decided to finalise the reports on various segments at the earliest to formulate finance proposals. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha represented India, while foreign ministers of Myanmar U Win Aung and Surakiart Sathirathai of Thailand represented their countries. They decided to meet again in 2004.
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