CNI News

March 13, 2026

If the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, jointly implemented by India and Myanmar, is completed in 2027, it could bring peace and stability to Chin State and Rakhine State, according to U Soe Htet, chairman of the New Chin Congress Party (NCC).

He told CNI News that the project is part of India’s policy toward its northeastern region and is intended to provide those landlocked areas with access to the sea.

U Soe Htet said: “The Kaladan project is part of India’s northeastern policy. It is intended to provide sea access for India’s northeastern states such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur. From Mizoram’s Aizawl, the route will pass through the Lawngtlai area and then connect to Paletwa by road. From Paletwa, it will reach the deep-sea port there and then continue down to the Sittwe port. Through this route, India will be able to transport goods, both toward its own territories and to Southeast Asia. This project has been carried out since 2008 through agreements between the governments of India and Myanmar. It is effectively India’s sea outlet. It is also a sea outlet for our Chin State and for India’s landlocked states. Just as some of China’s inland regions can access the sea through Myanmar, India is also trying to gain sea access through Paletwa in Chin State and Sittwe in Rakhine State. I do not know how the countries involved are coordinating with one another, but we understand that the Kaladan project is planned to be completed in 2027. It started in 2008, and the main reason it has not been completed yet is due to armed conflicts. Since it is a project jointly implemented by the governments of Myanmar and India, if it is successfully completed, it will improve connectivity and create economic opportunities. It will benefit Chin people, benefit Rakhine State, and bring development for local communities. I believe the region will also become more peaceful.”

The Kaladan River project site in Paletwa

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project agreement was signed between India and Myanmar in 2008, and implementation began in September 2010.

India has reportedly invested about US$484 million in the project.

The project is part of India’s Act East Policy, aimed at linking Kolkata with Mizoram State through Myanmar.

The route is expected to reduce the distance between Kolkata and Mizoram by about 1,000 kilometers, while also reducing transport time to around three to four days.

U Soe Htet also said that relations between the Indian government and the Myanmar military are currently positive and that India’s approach toward Myanmar appears to be peaceful.

A port jetty in Paletwa

He said: “Our northwestern region is closely connected with our neighboring areas such as Manipur and Mizoram, where many Chin people also live. Because of this shared background, the Indian government has implemented development programs under its Look East policy. They are also working to secure sea access routes, so relations are good. The relationship between the Indian government and the Myanmar government is also positive. India’s stance toward Myanmar appears constructive. The Indian ambassador in Yangon frequently holds discussions with our government. We have also heard that India wants to complete the Kaladan project by 2027 and is continuing discussions toward that goal. Therefore, in terms of relations with Myanmar’s northwestern region and India’s attitude toward us, I believe their approach is generally peaceful.”

According to reports published in July 2025 by IDRW, a media outlet linked to India’s RAW intelligence agency, India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated that the Kaladan river transport project is expected to become operational in 2027.

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project includes the expansion of Sittwe Port, dredging of the Kaladan River to allow international vessels to operate, and construction of a road linking Paletwa in Chin State to Mizoram State in India.

Under the project, goods from India will be transported by water along the Kaladan River from Sittwe to Paletwa, while goods from Myanmar will be transported by truck from Paletwa to Mizoram.

The Kaladan project is expected to improve trade connectivity between India’s northeastern states and Myanmar’s Rakhine and Chin states.