The Trilateral Highway from India to Thailand that went on the slow lane

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway that starts from India and goes to Thailand via Myanmar is at the centre of the transport diplomacy among ASEAN countries.

The highway's Imphal-Moreh portion on the Indian side, however, is expected to be completed only by 2023, more than two decades after it was conceptualised. The transnational highway  connectivity was envisaged to enable trade from India to the other ASEAN nations.

"One of the packages is complete and the other two are yet to start, we hope to complete the Imphal-Moreh portion in 2-3 years," an official said. This portion is funded by the Asian Development Bank.

As part of the look east policy, the project was planned in 2002 with the idea to boost trade, business, health, education and tourism relations among the three nations.

The highway will connect Moreh in India with Mae Sot in Thailand, via Myanmar. Former road secretary Vijay Chhibber, who was involved with the transport project, said the idea was in the making for some decades but had taken more than usual time for execution.

"The project was first handed over to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which took almost 10 years to construct 72 bridges. Later it was awarded to NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation)," Chhibber said, adding that the Myanmar side was also slightly reluctant in signing the road transport agreements for the proposed corridor.

The pacts are to ensure proper documentation and seamless movement of goods on the trilateral highway. Reviving road infrastructure becomes essential as the time taken for movement of goods via highways is two-third of the time taken through port connectivity.

Experts are of the view that the trilateral highway gives greater access to the larger ASEAN market through Myanmar.

"As part of the look east policy this will not only integrate the north eastern states in terms of trade but also help them to export their produce to neighboring countries with whom India shares socio-cultural linkages," said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Director - Transport, CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory.

While road connectivity is an important augmentation on the physical infrastructure space, ease of movement and seamless movement of goods, services across the borders will help in boos trade, he added.

Besides the Trilateral Highway, the Union government is focused on enhancing road connectivity in the north-eastern region. This possibly could provide seamless highway movement from Indian hinterland to right up to Thailand promoting both trade and tourist movement.

Union road transport and highway minister Nitin Gadkari, in August this year laid foundation stones for 13 highway projects, with construction value worth Rs 3,000 crore, to improve connectivity in Manipur.

KEY FEATURES:

• Trilateral Highway in Myanmar will be constructed in two sections: (1) construction of 120.74 km Kalewa-Yagyi road section, and; (2)
• construction of 69 bridges along with the approach road on the 149.70 km Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section
• It will be a four-lane highway which is approximately 1,360 km
• Earlier, India - Myanmar Friendship Road, linking Moreh-Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa was built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which is now a part of the Trilateral Highway.
• The project will boost trade and commerce in the ASEAN - India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of Southeast Asia
• India has also proposed extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam