30 October
A new Manipur River Crossing Bridge (Mansaung Bridge) is planned to be constructed on the main border trade route between Myanmar and India in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, according to the Transportation Ministry of Chin State.
“The construction project will start in December, and the new bridge will be built around 100 feet near the existing bridge (Myanmar suspension bridge). The 557.7-feet long and 30-feet wide bridge will be built of concrete and will have two lanes. The project is expected to be completed in three years,” said U Shwe Htee Ooe, the Minister of Road and Transportation for Chin State. Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw, Chief Minister of Chin State Salai Lian Luai, and members of the regional government inspected the construction site of the Mansaung Suspension Bridge and the Tiddim-Reed road renovation site on 14 October. The project is being implemented with an allocated budget of K4.6 billion and K1.2 billion will be used in this fiscal year. The Mansaung River Crossing Bridge will be built across the Manipur River near Tiddim and Reed border towns, which are on the main trade route between Myanmar and India, in order to ensure smooth transportation. The Kalay-Tiddim-Reedhorda Road is 80 miles long and used to conduct trade between Reedhorda and Zokhawthar.
After the existing suspension bridge was damaged by a natural disaster in 2015, the Falam District Road Department has been allowing only 16 ton vehicles to cross the bridge. Therefore, cargo vehicles have experienced transportation difficulties in the rainy season.
Zo Hay Hsar (Translated by La Wonn)
