No special permit now to drive into Myanmar

Indian travellers will be issues visas on spot

IMPHAL: The much awaited Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge that connects India with Myanmar’s towns was opened on Wednesday.

The bridge is located at Manipur’s border town Moreh, 110 km south of Imphal.

The government has already announced Moreh as an Immigration Check Post of India.

With the opening of the Friendship Bridge, India’s only border road through Moreh town, Indians travelling to Myanmar would no longer require to obtain special permits.

Travellers would be issued visas provided they possess passports, said M Lakshmikumar, commissioner (Transport).

Some of the travellers from India are already making use of the opportunity, the officer said.

Earlier, citizens of the two countries were allowed free movement up to 16 km of each other’s territory, Indians who wished to travel beyond 16 km had to take special land permits from the Myanmar authority.

Convenor RK Shivachandra of Manipur Act East Policy Committee, additional chief secretary Suhel Akhtar, commissioner (Transport) M Lakshmikumar, special secretary Home Kh Raghumani, brigader AS Chauhan of 26 sector Assam Rifles, deputy commissioner Tengnoupal A Tombikanta and SP Tengnoupal represented the Indian delegation at the opening gathering.

The Myanmar delegation led by its ministry of labour, immigration and population permanent secretary U Awe Lwin lincluded former secretary Myat kyaw of Saigaing Region, Myanmar, CEO Fly Myanmar Nyein Chan Soe Win, CEO Ken Tun of Parami Energy Group, editorin-chief Soe Myint of Mizzima media, Businessman Htin Lin Aung and others.

Nandan Singh Bhaisora , consul general of India who attended the ceremony said, “This is a historic and positive beginning for both India and Myanmar to have better bilateral relations in future.”

Ahead of the day’s event, convenor of Manipur’s Act East Policy committee RK Shivachandra said, “Many said Manipur is a landlocked state considering its geographical location,” said Shivachandra.

But with the opening of this border road I think the state will be the land link.”

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED MOREH TOWN IN MANIPUR AS AN IMMIGRATION CHECK POST OF THE COUNTRY

HT PHOTO Earlier, citizens of the two countries were allowed free movement only up to 16 km of each other’s territory. Indians who wished to travel beyond that had to take special land permits.