Imphal: The Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIM), Manipur had proposed prime minister Modi for construction of alternative Asian Highway between Kuirei via Khamasom Phungdhar in Ukhrul district, Manipur to Homalin, Myanmar asserting that Khamasom is one of the most remote and underdeveloped villages located in the northern part of Ukhrul district in Manipur.
The village is known for its richness in vegetation. It is arguably the only village in northeastern India with a thick virgin forest in the Indo-Burma border stretch, it added.
Elaborating further on its proposal, AIM maintained that Homalin or Hommalinn is a town in north-western Myanmar in Hkamti District of the Sagaing Region. The town lies on the Chindwin River and is served by Homalin Airport. Gold has been found in the river sand of Uyu River, a major tributary of the Chindwin River that flows close to Homalin. Homalin lies close to the Indian border.
It continued that the main population are Shanni, Kathe and Naga ethnic groups residing in Homalin. The main artery road in the region is the Thabeikkyin-Phaungbyin-Homalin-Hkamti Road, which is 330 miles (530 km) long.
This is being extended, and bridges are being built by a Road Construction Special Group-10 to make
it an all-weather road.
A suspension bridge, 1000 feet long and 16 feet wide was constructed across the Uyu River linking Homalin with the Thetkekyin-Phaungpyin-Homalin-Khamti Road. Country boats, locally known as landwins, also ply in the waters of the Chindwin River to Homalin.
Both Irrawaddy and its major tributary, the Chindwin River, have Inland Water Transport facilities. The Homalin Airport (HOX) in the centre of the Homalin town has flights operating to Yangon and Mandalay and is on the famous tourist circuit.
Sharing the background behind its moves, it said, “Khamasom Phungdhar is one of the most remote and underdeveloped villages located north of Ukhrul in Ukhrul district of Manipur state. The village is known for its richness in vegetation, and is arguably the only village in northeastern India with a thick virgin forest in the Indo-Burma border stretch.
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In order to enhance the vision of prime minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy, it is pertinent to construct a highway between Kuirei via Khamasom Phungdhar to Homalin.
It will be the nearest river port of Myanmar from the states of North East India, including Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. As an extended vision of the Act East Policy, this nearest river port will be more economically feasible to conduct Indo-Myanmar trade relations, a letter signed by Awungshi Philip Soso, social worker, Khamasom Phungdhar, Ukhrul; Mayanglambam Khelendro president, Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur and Dr. Atom Sunil Singh, Director, the Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Imphal addressing to prime minister Modi through the deputy commissioner, Ukhrul had urged.