Shri Sarbananda Sonowal received First Indian Cargo Ship at Sittwe Port

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications Admiral Tin Aung San, of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal received First Indian Cargo Ship at Sittwe Port
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal received First Indian Cargo Ship at Sittwe Port

NEW DELHI- Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications Admiral Tin Aung San, of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State, Myanmar on 08 MAY 2023. During this event, they received the first Indian Cargo ship which was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

The operationalization of Sittwe Port would enhance bilateral and regional trade as well as contribute to the local economy of the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The greater connectivity provided by the Port will lead to employment opportunities and enhanced growth prospects in the region.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways highlighted the close historical, cultural, and economic ties between India and Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State of Myanmar. He reiterated India’s longstanding commitment towards the development and prosperity of the people of Myanmar through developmental initiatives such as the Sittwe Port.

Read Also : Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal visits 45 MW NHPC Nimoo Bazgo Power Station

This project was conceptualized to provide an alternative connectivity of Mizoram with Haldia / Kolkata / any Indian ports through the Kaladan River in Myanmar.

The project envisages highway/road transport from Mizoram to Paletwa (Myanmar), thereafter from Paletwa to Sittwe (Myanmar) by Inland Water Transport (IWT) and from Sittwe to any port in India by maritime shipping.

The project comprises of following segments (Index map is also enclosed):

Sl.

         Stretch

Mode

Distance

(a)

Haldia to Sittwe port in Myanmar

Shipping

539 km

(b)

Sittwe to Paletwa    (River Kaladan)

 IWT

158 km

(c)

Paletwa to Indo-Myanmar Border (in Myanmar)

Road

110 km

(d)

Indo-Myanmar Border to NH.54  (in India) 

Road

100 km

Read Also : Coal Ministry Signs Agreements with Successful Bidders of three Coal Blocks

Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant in aid assistance from Government of India. Once fully operationalized the waterway and road components of KMTTP will link the East coast of India to the North-eastern states through the Sittwe port.

Read Also : Rites revises estimate for Northeast Frontier Railway electrification to Rs 532 crore