Lok Sabha Question No. 569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Act East Policy
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Tapir Gao

## Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 569

To be answered on

Wednesday, February 5, 2020/Magha 16, 1941(Saka)

## QUESTION Act East Policy

## 569. SHRI TAPIR GAO:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the progress of Act East Policy in connecting South East Asian countries along with the number of border trade centres that has been established other than Manipur and Mizoram;
- (b)  the  number  of  kilometres  of  road  connectivity  that  has  been  constructed connecting  South  East  Asian  countries  and  the  details  of  air  connectivity  that  has been established;
- (c) the number of inland water connectivity that has been established under Act East Policy;
- (d)  the  total  economic  growth  of  border  trades  in  the  last  three  years  in  the  North East; and
- (e)  whether  Manipur  and  Mizoram  border  trade  centres  have  been  established  in world class with banking, currency exchange, IT etc.?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

(a) to (c)    India's 'Act East' policy focuses on the extended neighbourhood with the primary  objective  of  promoting  economic  cooperation,  cultural  ties  and  develop strategic  relationship  with  countries  through  continuous  engagement  at  bilateral, regional and multilateral levels which would eventually provide enhanced connectivity to the states of North Eastern region. India's projects in Myanmar includes Kaladalan Multi  Modal  Transit  Transport  Project  and  the  construction  of  the  India-Myanmar  Thailand Trilateral Highway, which includes the restoration of 69 bridges including an approach road and upgradation of Kalewa Yargyi road segment in Myanmar. Under connectivity  with  Myanmar, India  had  funded  and  constructed  the  160  Km  road segment (Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa segment) of the Trilateral Highway from Moreh in India  to  Mae  Sot  in  Thailand  through  Myanmar  in  2001  and  maintained  it  till  2009 before handing over to the Government of Myanmar. Projects in Bangladesh include

Akhaura-  Agartala  rail  link  and  Dredging  of  Jamuna  and  Kushiyara  rivers  in Bangladesh and signing of Memorandum of Understanding and Standard Operating Procedures  with  Bangladesh  for  the  use  of  Chattogram  and  Mongla  Ports  of Bangladesh  for  movement  of  goods  to  and  from  India.    The  Kaladan  Multi  Modal Transit Transport Project consists of a waterway component on Kaladan river from Sittwe to Paletwa in Myanmar and a road component from Paletwa to Zorinpui on the India-Myanmar  border  in  Mizoram  State  for      interlinking  India  and  Myanmar  by providing alternate connectivity for India's North Eastern states via Myanmar through road and inland water transport routes. It comprises of construction of Sittwe Port and IWT  terminal  at  Paletwa;  fairway  development  of  Kaladan  river  (Sittwe  -  Paletwa stretch) and 109 Km roads component uptill Mizoram Border. Under the KMTTP, 158 Km Port and Waterways component and construction of 06 IWT vessels (300 tonnes each) is completed.

Other than Manipur and Mizoram, there are no operational border trade centres with  Myanmar.  Presently  four  Border  Haats  are  operational  at  (i)  Kalaichar    Meghalaya;  (ii)  Balat    -  Meghalaya;  (iii)  Kamalasagar  -  Tripura;  (iv)  Srinagar  Tripura. Besides, the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh in the state of Manipur, ICP at Agartala, Tripura is also operational.

As regards completing road connectivity to South East Asian countries, 86.20 Km  out  of  88.00  Km  2-Lane  Road  with  paved  shoulder  from  Lawngtalia  -India /Myanmar  Border has  been  completed    in  Mizoram.  Jairampur  to  Pangsupass section of NH-315 connecting India and Myanmar having length of 32.49 Km was completed  under  SARDP-NE  in  the  year  2015  in  Arunachal  Pradesh.  Besides, about 777  km  (10  Nos)  length  of  road  are  completed  including  maintenance  and 1477  km  (20  Nos)  length  of  road  is  under  progress  by  the  Border  Roads Organisation in Manipur and Mizoram. 28 Km length of Imphal-Moreh (MyanmarBorder) Section of NH 39 (2 laning) is complete.

At  present  NOK AIR is operating twice a week flight between Guwahati and Bangkok for air connectivity.

(d) to(e)    India's trade via North Eastern States during the last three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20 (April- November) is  given  at Annexure I. Integrated  Check Post (ICP), Moreh in the state of Manipur along India Myanmar   border has been developed to facilitate trade and passenger movement across the land border and is  operational.  The  Land  Customs  Station  at  Zokhawthar,  Mizoram  has  certain constraints relating to banking, internet connectivity etc.

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## Annexure 1

India's Trade via North Eastern State during the last three years  from 2017-18 to 2019-20 (April- November)

(Unit: in Million US$)

|                                | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18     | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2018-19     | 2019-20 (Apr-Nov)   | 2019-20 (Apr-Nov)   | 2019-20 (Apr-Nov)   |
|--------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-------------|-----------|-----------|-------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| Ports                          | Export    | Import    | Total Trade | Export    | Import    | Total Trade | Export              | Import              | Total Trade         |
| BANGLADESH PR                  | 88.743    | 75.867    | 164.610     | 70.521    | 85.346    | 155.867     | 37.087              | 56.549              | 93.636              |
| Assam                          | 12.650    | 19.797    | 32.446      | 12.007    | 25.227    | 37.234      | 3.543               | 23.295              | 26.839              |
| GOLOKGANS RLY.STN              | 1.808     |           | 1.808       | 4.402     |           | 4.402       | 0.977               | 1.432               | 2.409               |
| KARIMGANJ STEAMERGHAT          | 2.319     |           | 2.319       | 2.391     | 0.600     | 2.991       | 0.001               |                     | 0.001               |
| MANKACHAR                      | 0.119     | 0.775     | 0.894       | 0.554     | 1.268     | 1.821       |                     |                     |                     |
| SUTARKANDI                     | 8.403     | 19.022    | 27.425      | 4.660     | 23.359    | 28.019      | 2.565               | 21.863              | 24.428              |
| Meghalaya                      | 75.216    | 2.773     | 77.989      | 56.284    | 2.159     | 58.443      | 33.241              | 0.716               | 33.958              |
| BHOLLAGANJ                     | 3.737     |           | 3.737       | 11.445    |           | 11.445      | 4.151               |                     | 4.151               |
| BORSORAH                       | 36.321    |           | 36.321      | 14.727    |           | 14.727      | 7.192               |                     | 7.192               |
| DALU                           | 0.702     | 0.088     | 0.790       | 0.329     | 0.222     | 0.551       | 0.330               | 0.185               | 0.515               |
| MAHENDRAGANJ                   | 0.565     | 2.685     | 3.251       | 0.386     | 1.937     | 2.322       | 0.217               | 0.532               | 0.748               |
| SHEUABAZAR                     | 33.891    |           | 33.891      | 29.397    |           | 29.397      | 21.352              |                     | 21.352              |
| Tripura                        | 0.878     | 53.298    | 54.176      | 2.229     | 57.961    | 60.190      | 0.302               | 32.538              | 32.840              |
| AGARTALA                       | 0.042     | 30.282    | 30.324      | 0.151     | 38.993    | 39.143      | 0.014               | 21.065              | 21.079              |
| KHOWAIGHAT                     |           | 0.185     | 0.185       |           | 0.196     | 0.196       |                     |                     |                     |
| LCS MAHURIGHAT                 |           | 6.223     | 6.223       |           | 6.462     | 6.462       |                     | 2.806               | 2.806               |
| LCS MANU                       | 0.797     | 1.688     | 2.485       | 1.366     | 2.066     | 3.432       | 0.285               | 1.623               | 1.909               |
| OLD RAGHNA BAZAR LCS (TRIPURA) | 0.001     | 0.046     | 0.047       | 0.614     | 1.385     | 1.999       | 0.003               | 0.446               | 0.449               |
| SRIMANTAPUR                    | 0.039     | 14.873    | 14.912      | 0.099     | 8.860     | 8.959       |                     | 6.597               | 6.597               |
| BHUTAN                         | 21.784    | 1.135     | 22.920      | 9.873     | 2.913     | 12.786      | 49.357              | 14.838              | 64.195              |
| Assam                          | 21.784    | 1.135     | 22.920      | 9.873     | 2.913     | 12.786      | 49.357              | 14.838              | 64.195              |
| DARRANGA (RANGIA)              |           |           |             | 9.873     | 2.907     | 12.781      | 36.565              | 14.838              | 51.403              |
| HATISAR (Deosiri)              | 21.784    | 1.135     | 22.920      |           |           |             | 12.792              |                     | 12.792              |
| MANKACHAR                      |           |           |             |           | 0.005     | 0.005       |                     |                     |                     |
| CHINA                          |           |           |             |           | 0.065     | 0.065       |                     |                     |                     |
| Sikkim                         |           |           |             |           | 0.065     | 0.065       |                     |                     |                     |
| SHERATHANG (NEAR NATHULA PASS) |           |           |             |           | 0.065     | 0.065       |                     |                     |                     |
| Grand Total                    | 110.527   | 77.003    | 187.530     | 80.394    | 88.323    | 168.718     | 86.444              | 71.387              | 157.831             |

Source: Department of Commerce