Why has work on 1,400-km India-Myanmar-Thailand highway stalled? S Jaishankar reveals reason

A mega 1,400-km-long highway that can boost India’s infrastructural reach is currently facing a key hurdle. Addressing a session at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway "can be a real game-changer and all efforts should be made to advance it."

Speaking extensively on the Modi Government’s commitment to "Act East, Act Fast, and Act First," Jaishankar stated that the highway is currently facing some issues in strife-torn Myanmar. He said that work on the highway has been halted due to the "situation in Myanmar."

However, he added that this highway is a "momentous" initiative and cannot be impacted due to internal strife. Jaishankar advocated for some "practical solutions" so that work on the IMTT Highway project can resume.

As of July 2023, around 70 percent of the critical construction work on this key Asian highway had been completed. The 1,400-km-long route will link India with Southeast Asia by land. From Manipur’s Moreh, the highway will extend to Thailand’s Mae Sot, passing through Myanmar. Once completed, the highway will serve as a crucial channel for trade, commerce, and tourism. While all stakeholders remain committed to its completion, no concrete timeline has been shared so far.