India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT Highway), also known as the Asian Trilateral Highway, is an ambitious international road project that aims to connect India (Moreh, Manipur) and Thailand (Mae Sot) via Myanmar. This highway is part of India’s Look East policy and Act East policy, which seek to enhance connectivity and cooperation with Southeast Asia.

Key Points

Route and Length

The IMT Highway spans approximately 1,360 km and will link Moreh in India with Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar. The route includes various key locations such as Moreh-Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa-Yagyi-Monywa-Mandalay-Meiktila-Bagan-Nyaung U-Magway-Pyay-Hpa-An-Myawaddy in Myanmar and Mae Sot-Tak-Lampang-Lamphun-Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Mae Sai in Thailand. The India-Myanmar Friendship Road, a 160-km segment connecting Moreh-Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa, is also part of the IMT Highway.

Objectives and Benefits

The IMT Highway’s main objectives are to facilitate trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges among India, Myanmar, and Thailand. It aims to promote regional integration and cooperation within the ASEAN-India framework and strengthen India’s strategic presence and influence in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the highway provides an alternative route for accessing the Indian Ocean and beyond.

The highway offers several benefits, including reduced travel time, cost, and distance between India and Southeast Asia, fostering economic activities and opportunities along the corridor, improving infrastructure and connectivity in the region, enhancing cultural and social ties among the three countries, and contributing to peace and stability.

Status and Challenges

The IMT Highway was proposed in 2002 at a trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Yangon. However, its implementation has faced various challenges and delays due to factors such as political instability and security issues in Myanmar, lack of coordination among the three countries, technical difficulties, environmental concerns, cross-border movement regulations, and financial constraints.

Way Forward

The IMT Highway holds immense potential to transform the economic and geopolitical landscape of South and Southeast Asia. To overcome the challenges and expedite its completion, measures such as strengthening political dialogue and trust among the countries, providing technical assistance and capacity building, harmonising cross-border trade regulations, mobilising adequate financial resources from multiple sources, and ensuring environmental sustainability and social inclusiveness should be taken.

The successful completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway will enhance regional connectivity, facilitate greater economic integration, and promote closer ties between India, Myanmar, and Thailand, fostering mutual growth and development in the region.