Imphal Jul 28 UNA: With a hint of beginning the long awaited Imphal-Mandalay bus service, Centre has sought the opinion of the Manipur government pertaining to the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between India and Myanmar for the service.
Following improving relationship between the two nighbouring counties and considering the developments towards India’s Look East Policy, the Imphal-Mandalay bus service was expected to commence from this current month.
However, it was delayed pending mandatory ground works like setting up of passport and visa office in Manipur which the processes were under progress. The Centre has recently agreed to open visa office at Moreh, the border town of Manipur at the border with Myanmar and immigration office.
International Cooperation Division of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, has sent the draft copy of MoU and protocol with regard to the bus service to the state government to peruse the copy and rework the contents if it wishes, an official source said Sunday.
The source said, MoU and protocol is likely to be signed soon as both the governments are eyeing commencement of the bus service after the monsoon season. The bus service would originate from Imphal and Mandalay as per the proposal.
However, there would be a changeover at Moreh and Tamu, border town of Myanmar and passengers would be transferred at the cross-border points to a vehicle of the other country, given the variance in traffic procedures and driving styles as Myanmar has left-hand-driven vehicles.
Route permit within Myanmar is to be given by its government while route permit within Imphal will be given by Manipur government. Passengers from both sides will have to go through check-in procedures by immigration officials at Moreh and Tamu.
There is a 184-km stretch road that needs repair between Kalewa and Monywa on Myanmar side. Indian government had constructed 120 kms of the road stretch and the remaining portion is being left for Myanmar government as per agreement, the source added.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mou-for-imphal-mandalay-bus-service-ready/
