Aizawl: Mizoram governor Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh on Monday directed IRCON International Ltd to make maximum progress during the next working season on the delayed 109.2-km Paletwa-Zorinpui road project in Myanmar under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP).Sanjay Tripathi, project head of IRCON’s Myanmar branch, called on the governor at Lok Bhavan here and briefed him on the project’s progress, challenges and the way forward.During a PowerPoint presentation, Tripathi apprised Singh of the progress on the Paletwa-Zorinpui stretch and other issues concerning its execution. The project has achieved 25% physical progress and 30% financial progress, he said.The governor stated that Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is an important initiative of the central govt and must be given top priority.The project has been delayed for a long time and cannot be delayed any further, he stated, further stressing that all possible efforts must be made to complete it successfully.Singh directed that maximum progress should be achieved in the next working season. He also asked IRCON to inform him of any difficulties and assured his full support to ensure the project is completed as soon as possible.The KMMTTP is a major project under Centre’s “Act East Policy” aimed at improving connectivity with South Asian countries and linking the landlocked northeastern states, particularly Mizoram, with Kolkata by sea.The project has faced several hurdles, especially after the military coup d’état in Myanmar on Feb 1, 2021. The Paletwa area and adjoining parts of southern Chin state are controlled by the United League of Arakan (ULA) and its armed wing, the Arakan Army (AA).The 87.51-km Lawngtlai-Zorinpui highway section in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district has been completed. However, work on the Zorinpui-Paletwa road has been delayed for several years.
