The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued the letter of award to Punj Lloyd and Varaha Infra joint venture (JV) for the construction of a two-lane highway in the Kalewa-Yargi section of the proposed India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway. The highway will connect India with Thailand through Myanmar.

The 120-km-long road section is estimated to cost Rs 1,177 crore. India has already built the 132-km section, from the border town of Tamu to Kalewa. A separate contract is on for upgradation of 69 bridges along the Tamu-Kalewa stretch.

A detailed project report (DPR) is underway to build the Rih-Tedim road that will help connect the trilateral highway through Zokhawthar-Rih border in Mizoram, where India has already committed huge sums for widening the highway.
Meanwhile, India plans to extend road connectivity to the entire Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) region. A preliminary survey has also been initiated for rail connectivity parallel to the trilateral highway. Japan is interested in funding and collaborating with India in the trilateral rail project.