Agartala, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, on Monday highlighted the urgent need for the execution of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit and Transport Project, which aims to connect the Northeast with Myanmar. He also stressed the importance of enhancing multimodal connectivity corridors that link the region to the rest of India and its neighboring countries.

During the third virtual meeting of the High-Level Task Force focused on infrastructure and connectivity development in the Northeastern states, Saha emphasized the necessity of transforming the region into a gateway to the Bay of Bengal and ASEAN nations through integrated logistics hubs, freight rail systems, and strong energy and digital infrastructures.

The meeting was chaired by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and included participation from Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, senior officials from all eight Northeastern states, and representatives from the DoNER Ministry.

The Tripura Chief Minister pointed out that the Northeastern states are rich in growth potential and that coordinated efforts among these states are crucial for accelerating infrastructure and connectivity improvements.

He called for a unified approach to tackle challenges related to road, rail, air, and waterway connectivity, as well as power, gas, and digital infrastructure, stressing the importance of identifying region-specific issues when planning future initiatives.

Furthermore, Saha showcased a detailed strategy developed by the Task Force aimed at bolstering infrastructure and communication systems throughout the Northeastern states, noting that this roadmap was created by evaluating current infrastructure, pinpointing bottlenecks, and considering future needs.

Special focus was given to priority sectors like regional infrastructure macro-grids, power, oil and natural gas, tourism, and border trading areas, for which a comprehensive development outline has been recommended in the Task Force report.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that improved coordination between the Centre and the Northeastern states would enhance connectivity and position the region as a critical gateway to Southeast Asia.

Minister Scindia commended Chief Minister Saha and the Tripura government for their thorough preparations, integrated planning, and foresight as reflected in the Task Force report.

The DoNER Ministry has established several High-Level Task Forces to identify key interventions and devise actionable strategies for the integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor.

These task forces were formed following the 72nd plenary session of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) in November last year in Agartala, presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Senior officials including Tripura Industries and Commerce Secretary Kiran Gitte, Planning Secretary L.T. Darlong, and Industries and Commerce Director Deepak Kumar participated in the meeting from the Tripura Institution for Transformation.

In the meantime, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit and Transport Project (KMTTP) aims to link Kolkata Port with Myanmar's Sittwe Port, creating a vital trade route through Mizoram. This project is expected to significantly shorten the travel distance between West Bengal and Mizoram, thereby fostering trade and industrial development.

The KMTTP serves as a strategic initiative between India and Myanmar to connect India's Northeast to maritime routes via Kolkata, Sittwe port, the Kaladan river, and Paletwa, culminating in a road to Mizoram. This will provide an alternative to the congested Siliguri Corridor and enhance regional trade under India’s “Act East Policy.”