New trade road under construction to link Paletwa with India

By Admin 30 Jul 2025

DMG Newsroom

30 July 2025, Paletwa, Chin State

The Maraland Territorial Council/Mara Defence Force (MTC-MDF) (MTC/MDF) is constructing a new road that will provide easy access between Siaha district in India's Mizoram State and Paletwa, Chin State.

The road has been under construction since July 17 and is being built to facilitate trade between India and Paletwa, said Ko Du Wun, defense secretary of the MTC/MDF.

"This road is primarily intended for the development of villages in Maraland in the Paletwa region, and is being built with the aim of making trade between India and Paletwa three times faster and more cost-effective than before," he explained.

The new asphalt road will run about 80 kilometres, linking Siaha district with Paletwa town in Chin State, covering an area considered part of Maraland that includes nearly 40 villages and spans the border.

The road currently under construction is not part of the India-funded Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and rather is a new route that will provide direct access to Paletwa from Siaha district in Mizoram State, according to the MTC/MDF.

Merchants said that once construction of the new road is completed, villages along the India-Paletwa route will be able to develop with the flow of goods, and trade between India and Arakan State will also be faster than before.

"This is also very good for traders. In the past, if you were going to Siaha, you would have to go through Lawngtlai town. Once the road is completed, trade will be much faster. There will be many more options for the next route," said an Arakanese merchant.

The India-Arakan trade route is beset by challenges and delays, particularly during the rainy season.The people of Arakan State and Paletwa Township, which are under military regime blockade, rely mainly on India for essential goods including food.