The trilateral highway connecting Bangkok with Kolkata, known as the Kolkata-Bangkok highway, will be operational in the next three to four years, according to the ministries of commerce from different countries, attending a business conclave organised by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as stated in media reports.
The highway will start from Bangkok and end in Kolkata. Developed with an aim to provide seamless connectivity between India and Thailand, the highway project is part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) project. According to Thailand’s vice minister of foreign affairs, Vijavat Isarabhakdi, most of the work on the Trilateral Highway project has been completed in Thailand.
The Myanmar commerce minister, Aung Naing Oo recently said that the section in his country is expected to be ready in three years, as mentioned in media reports. The completion of the highway project will depend on the progress in Myanmar and Indian portion. The Kolkata Bangkok Highway is expected to be completed by 2027.
Kolkata-Bangkok Highway project details
| Project | Kolkata-Bangkok Trilateral Highway |
| Length | 2820 |
| Countries covered | India, Myanmar and Thailand |
| Estimate completion time | 2027 |
The Trilateral highway project will cover a length of around 2,820 km. The project has been planned to strategically traverse through various regions in Myanmar, Thailand, and India.
The Trilateral highway project will cover a length of around 2,820 km. The project has been planned to strategically traverse through various regions in Myanmar, Thailand, and India.
In 2017, the NITI Ayog of India planned to create a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to finance the highway project. The SPV will be owned by all three countries involved in the project.
Kolkata-Bangkok Highway project cost
- The section from Myanmar from Tamu to Kalewa will cost around $27.28 million.
- The Indian government invested $256 million to upgrade the highway from Moreh to Mae Sot in Thailand, covering 1360 km.
- The Indian government made another investment of $150 million for the maintenance of road from Kalewa to Yagyi section.
- The Kingdom of Thailand invested around $51 million to widen the section from Ein Du to Thaton.
Kolkata-Bangkok Highway route
According to the proposed project plan, the highway will start from Bangkok, and will cover cities such as Sukhothai and Mae Sot in Thailand, Yangon, Mandalay, Kalewa and Tamu in Myanmar, before finally connecting with India.
The Kolkata-Bangkok Highway project is one of the longest highway projects in India, started as part of the India’s Look East Policy.
In India, the highway will cover Moreh in Manipur, Kohima in Nagaland, Guwahati in Assam and Srirampur, Siliguri and Kolkata in West Bengal. The Kolkata-Bangkok Highway will cover a distance of over 2,800 kilometre (km). The longest stretch of the highway will be in India while the shortest stretch will be in Thailand.
India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway details
| Highway section | Length | Location |
| Moreh – Kalewa | 160 km | Moreh in India to Kalewa in Myanmar |
| Kalewa – Yagyi | 120 km | Myanmar |
| Yagyi-Chaungma-Monywa | 64 km | Myanmar |
| Monywa-Mandalay | 136 km | Myanmar |
| Mandalay-Meiktila bypass | 123 km | Myanmar |
| Meiktila bypass-Taungoo-Oktwin-Payagyi | 238 km | Myanmar |
| Payagyi-Theinzayat-Thaton | 140 km | Myanmar |
| Thaton-Mawlamyine-Kawkareik | 134 km | Myanmar |
| Kawkareik-Myawaddy | 25 km | Myanmar |
| Myawaddy-Mae Sot | 20 km | Thailand |
Kolkata-Bangkok Highway: Impact and benefits
Trade
The development of the Kolkata-Bangkok Highway is expected to significantly enhance accessibility to the various regions across the three countries, facilitate transportation and trade and boost economic prospects in the region. There is expected to be an increase in exports and imports between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Connectivity
With the completion of the Kolkata-Bangkok highway project, there will easy connectivity between the two cities. It will reduce the costs on flights as one can easy travel to Bangkok by road. The towns such as Kohima, Guwahati, Srirampur, Siliguri, Sukhothai, Mae Sot, Yangon, Mandalay, Moreh, Kalewa and Tamu will witness improved connectivity.
Real estate
The Kolkata-Bangkok highway project will have a significant impact on the real estate in the neighbouring regions. The development of the infrastructure project will lead to increase in property prices along the corridor. Moreover, the project will lead to an increase in employment opportunities due to the movement of people. These factors are set to boost the demand for residential and commercial properties in these areas, which will result in rise in property price.
FAQs
How much did the road project cost from Kolkata to Thailand?
The Indian government has invested $256 million to upgrade the highway from Moreh to Mae Sot in Thailand. An investment of $150 million has been made for the maintenance of road from Kalewa to Yagyi section.
Is Kolkata Bangkok highway opening likely in 4 years?
The Kolkata-Bangkok highway project is expected to be completed by 2027.
What is current status of the Kolkata-Bangkok highway project?
Most of the construction work in Thailand for the Kolkata-Bangkok highway project has been completed. In India, several sections of the project have been completed. The Myanmar section of the Kolkata-Bangkok highway will be completed in two to three years.
Which cities in India will the Kolkata-Bangkok highway cover?
The Kolkata-Bangkok highway project will pass through Indian cities such as Moreh, Kohima, Guwahati, Srirampur, Siliguri and Kolkata
What is the total length of the Kolkata-Bangkok highway?
The Kolkata-Bangkok highway will cover a total length of around 2,800 kilometre.
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