India to build roads for Myanmar

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India to build roads for Myanmar
The Hindustan Time, New Delhi, Friday December 4, 1998
New Delhi, Dec. 3
 India has for the first time served notice that it is willing to take
on China in Myanmar-- in the sphere of strategic road building.
 While roads are being built on Myanmar's eastern border with Chinese
help, India is keen on developing and upgrading roads in those areas of
Myanmar that are close to India's borders.
 "In the areas close to India's borders, it would be in our interest to
ensure the development of roads and communications in cooperation with
India rather than any other country," says the External Affairs
Ministry.
Defending its decision to build the Tamu-Kalemyo road along the
India-Myanmar border, the Ministry has in its action taken report on the
recommendations of the Committee on Demands for Grants stated: "The
project will also symbolise India's capabilities and would send a
positive signal to Myanmar on India's economic and technological power."

 It was in 1993 that India had offered to the Government of Myanmar
cooperation in upgrading of border roads and development of telecom
facilities.
 Subsequently, it was decided to fund the  project from the External
Affairs Ministry's budget, while the construction was to be undertaken
by the Border Roads Organization.
 The projected security spin off for India was that the road, besides
improving the infrastructure in the areas close to our border, would
facilitate a better Myanmarese check on the activities of Indian
insurgent groups using some border stretches as transit routes. The
feasibility of the project was examined by the Defense and Home Affairs
Ministries.
 The Committee of Secretaries decided that the road had strategic
importance from India's security and commercial point of view. It was
felt to be in the national interest that the project be implemented and
accorded high priority.
 It would also be a visible symbol of Indian capability and "our
commitment to develop bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest",
according to the Ministry.

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