Upgradation of Mizoram-Myanmar border land custom station at Zokhawthar in Champhai district to Integrated Check Post is being taken up with estimated cost of Rs 15 crore under improvement of international border trade, state commerce and industries minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana said on Thursday.

The minister during his visit to Zokhawthar, also inspected the undergoing works for improvement of the Land Custom station including Staff and Officers’ residential quarters, Animal Quarantine Centre, Plant Quarantine Centre, Food Testing Laboratory and Immigration Check Post.

The upgradation of the station has been pursuit with the Land Port Authority of India and the proposal could not be expedited due to the raging civil war in the neighbouring country (Myanmar).

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The Zokhawthar trade centre and Zorinpui at southernmost Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district have been selected by the centre among 25 border trade centres to undertake improvement and enhancement of international border trade, Lalthangliana informed.

The proposed Zorinpui border trade centre is situated along the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), linking Mizoram with a highway with Myanmar in southern Mizoram, which would further link the Sittwe port, also known as Akyab, in Myanmar.

The project is to shorten the communication between the northeastern states, especially Mizoram, and Kolkata port by ship.

Law minister T.J. Lalnuntluanga, who accompanied Lalthangliana said that Rs 13.50 crore has been allocated for improvement and maintenance of highway between Champhai town and Zokhawthar under Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI). Lalnuntluanga also said that a proposal for construction of a new bridge over the Mizoram-Myanmar border

river Tiau, amounting to Rs 22.50 crore has been submitted to the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways and necessary documents have also been given to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.