Kohima, May 31 (PTI): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today expressed happiness over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Myanmar where he announced assistance for infrastructure development in border areas of the neighbouring country which also includes Naga inhabited areas of Myanmar. Expressing happiness over the Prime Minister’s announcement, Rio insisted that it was also equally important for development of infrastructure, particularly connectivity, on Indian side of the border so that economic potential of region could be realized fully.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day Indian Road Congress (IRC) conference here, Rio said the Myanmar regional authority on the other side of the border had proposed to develop four border trading points along Nagaland, and accordingly the state government had submitted the proposal to the Centre but no initiative had been taken so far from New Delhi.
He claimed that the Naga people on Indian side of the border was happy with the political recognition given to the Nagas in Myanmar by the new democratic regime there and six Nagas were elected to their parliament in the election.
Stressing on the need to develop the historic Stillwel Road and improvement of the existing national highway to Kohima, the chief minister insisted that if India’s Look East Policy has to see light of the day, infrastructure development in border areas on both sides of Myanmar is a must.
