Azo mulls cross border road to Thailand

Minister of Roads and Bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu has proposed a 361 kilometer “Cross-Border Road” connecting Dimapur-Kohima-Phek to Avangkhu (international border trade centre in Phek) to be linked up with Bangkok (Thailand) via Mandalay and Chiangmai (Myanmar). He said Avangkhu would be connected with Leyshi in Myanmar and Thailand.
Azo made the proposal during a two-hour discussion of officials of the R&B department with a visiting Thai delegation at Hotel Vivor Wednesday evening. The Thai delegation included minister counselor (commercial) Tharadol Thongruang, officials from the department of business development, ministry of commerce and other businessmen who arrived Kohima in the evening.
The Thai delegation are on a four-day visit to the north east, to explore business opportunities in the region and survey logistics of potential connection, creating business relations and network with local businessmen as well as studying logistical systems for goods transportation especially between India and Thailand.
 Azo informed the Thai delegation that the road would enhance the ‘Look East Policy’ of the government of India and would connect NE states with east Asean countries and also provide ample opportunity for opening up business relationship. He said the road would promote ‘people to people contact’ and promote fraternal relations among the mongoloid race.
It was informed that the Thai delegation appreciated the plan concept and accepted the proposal and assured of response within 2014.
Azo also stated that the foothill road, which he described as “an iconic road project” planned in consonance with the Nagaland Special Development Zone along the foothill area bordering Assam, would also improve road connectivity with the neighboring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The proposed foothill road is to link up Arunachal Pradesh NH-52 B with Tizit of around 75 kms; Tizit-Dimapur Khelma 429 kms; Khelma Nagaland- Dima Hasao district Assam connecting NH-54 (76 km)
On the proposed 370 km Trans Eastern Highway of 370, Azo informed the delegation that the road would run along the existing alignment covering about 370 km along the entire eastern flank of Nagaland bordering Myanmar which would open up the development prospects in the region with South East Asia. The Thai delegation drove to Imphal after the meeting.