Mizoram-Myanmar land custom station to be upgraded to Integrated Check Post

The border land custom station at Zokhawthar in Champhai district will be upgraded to Integrated Check Post at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore

By Isaac Zoramsanga

The Mizoram-Myanmar border land custom station at Zokhawthar in Champhai district will be upgraded to an Integrated Check Post at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore to promote international border trade, Mizoram Commerce and Industry Minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana said.

The proposal to upgrade the station has been pursued with the Land Port Authority of India however, the proposal could not be expedited due to the escalating conflict in the neighbouring nation (Myanmar), informed Minister Lalthangliana on Thursday, April 27 during his visit to Zokhawthar.

Minister Lalthangliana also inspected the ongoing work for the improvement of the Land Custom Station including Staff and Officers’ residential quarters, Animal Quarantine Centre, Plant Quarantine Centre, Food Testing Laboratory and Immigration Check Post.

The Minister further said that Zokhawthar Trade Center and Zorinpui in the Southern-most Mizoram district of Lawngtlai are among the 25 border trade centres chosen by the Central Government to strengthen and expand international border trade.

The proposed Zorinpui border trade centre is situated along the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), linking Mizoram with a highway with Myanmar in southern Mizoram, which would further link the Sittwe port, also known as Akyab, in Myanmar.

The project aims to shorten the communication between the northeastern states, especially Mizoram, and Kolkata port by ship.

Law Minister T.J. Lalnuntluanga, who accompanied Lalthangliana said that Rs 13.50 crore has been allocated for the improvement and maintenance of the highway between Champhai town and Zokhawthar under Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI).

Dr. R. Lalthangliana also informed that a proposal for the construction of a new bridge over the Tiau River, that connects the border between Mizoram and Myanmar, costing Rs 22.50 crore, has been submitted to the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways, and the necessary paperwork has also been given to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

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