Bharat Global Time Staff | May 25, 2025
Kolkata/Itanagar: In a major move to improve connectivity and assert strategic autonomy, India has unveiled plans for a new maritime route linking Kolkata to the Northeast via the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar, effectively bypassing Bangladesh.
The announcement, which comes amid rising trade and transit friction with Dhaka, is seen as a game-changing shift in how goods, defense supplies, and essential materials will reach India’s northeastern states — especially Mizoram, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
“This is not just a route — it’s a realignment of how we think about access, sovereignty, and speed,” said an official from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
The Route: How It Will Work
Under the proposed plan:
- Ships from Kolkata will head east across the Bay of Bengal
- They will dock at Sittwe Port in Myanmar, developed under India’s Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project
- From there, cargo will move inland via the Kaladan River to Paletwa, and then travel by road into Mizoram
This would cut transit time by nearly 50% and significantly reduce dependence on overland routes through Bangladesh.
Why Bypass Bangladesh?
While India has long enjoyed access to Bangladesh for transporting goods to the Northeast, recent political tensions and delays at key customs points have prompted Indian policymakers to seek alternate routes.
The Kaladan project, long in development, is now nearing operational status, and officials say the sea-road-river corridor is both logistically viable and strategically essential.
“Bangladesh remains a partner, but India must ensure that Northeast logistics don’t hang on a single thread,” said foreign affairs expert Ambika Ray.
Strategic & Security Implications
The move is also being seen in light of increasing Chinese influence in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal region. By using the India-Myanmar corridor, New Delhi aims to:
- Strengthen its hold over critical border areas in Mizoram and Arunachal
- Provide faster troop and equipment movement if necessary
- Expand trade links with Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy
The route will also boost development in remote northeastern districts, many of which still rely on slow, mountainous road routes from Assam.
What’s Next?
- Final testing of the Sittwe–Paletwa–Zorinpui segment is expected by mid-2025
- India is also exploring a direct shipping line between Kolkata and Sittwe to ensure faster turnaround
- Private logistics companies and defense suppliers are already preparing to reroute cargo through the corridor
At a Glance:
- 🇮🇳 India launches alternate sea-inland route to Northeast via Myanmar
- Bypasses traditional overland routes through Bangladesh
- Route: Kolkata → Sittwe (Myanmar) → Kaladan River → Mizoram
- Strategic: Ensures uninterrupted access to Northeast & reduces regional dependency
- Boosts trade, defense mobility & Act East Policy
Editor’s Note: Northeast India has often felt cut off from the Indian heartland. This new corridor is not just about cargo—it’s about connection, control, and carving out India’s space in the shifting geopolitics of South
