Turmoil in B'desh imparts urgency to the Kolkata-Sittwe-Aizawl corridor

The political turmoil in Bangladesh has made it more urgent for India to complete the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, or KMTTP, which links Mizoram to Kolkata via Sittwe Port in Myanmar. When fully operationalised, ideally with a rail link to Sittwe Port, it could offer a more resilient corridor for movement of goods to the Northeast, while also opening up longer-term trade possibilities with Southeast Asia. Conceptualised as an alternative route to connect Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura, the project creates a physical link between Aizawl and Kolkata. A highway connects Aizawl to Paletwa in Myanmar, from where cargo is transported via inland waterway along the Kaladan River to Sittwe Port. The sea route from Sittwe to Haldia/Kolkata is functional as of now. Cargo moved on KMTTP covers about 917 km, as compared to the approximately 1,500 km route by rail from Kolkata to Aizawl, said a report.

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