Despite turmoil in Myanmar, the Central government is hopeful that the Sittwe port in Myanmar would be fully operational by 2027, which will provide alternate connectivity from eastern coast of India to the northeastern states through the Sittwe port.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal was addressing the media in Guwahati on the occasion of completion of 11 years of the Modi government.
He said that operationalisation of the Sittwe port in Myanmar will reduce India’s dependence on Bangladesh and will reduce the distance between Kolkata port and northeast Indian states by 700 km.
Asked about the recent turmoil in Bangladesh and Myanmar and its impact on the project, Sonowal said that India respects the bilateral agreements signed with Bangladesh and Myanmar. “Already we have a cargo movement amounting to about 4 million matric tons through the Bangladesh protocol route,” he added.
