Moreh, India: Difference between revisions

| demographics1_info1            = [[Kuki, Meitei, English language|Meitei]]

Moreh, as a rapidly developing trade point with an integrated customs and immigration checkpoint, plays a very important role in India's [[Look East policy (India)|Look East Policy]],<ref name=railne1/> trade and commerce under [[ASEAN–India Free Trade Area]],<ref name=as1/> [[India–Myanmar relations|India-Myanmar relationship]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170912/jsp/northeast/story_172402.jsp#.WbdZelc-h3g.twitter|title=Vigil up in Manipur over influx}}</ref> [[India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway|India–Myanmar–Thailand road connectivity]],<ref name="Tripoto"/> and [[Trans-Asian Railway]] connectivity.<ref name=railne1/><ref name=tra1/>

Being a border trade and transit town, Moreh plays a key role in the development of the economy of the state with border haat as well as international trade. A significant portion of the economy of Moreh depends on smuggling, including illegal [[teak]] smuggled from Myanmar.<ref>{{YouTube|zK95gclGGCM|title=Inside India’s Smuggling Town}}</ref>

Moreh has the local [[Borders of India#Hat|Border Haat trade]], under the India-Myanmar Barter Trade mechanism, in which over 40 tradable items are listed. Major exports include cement, engineering goods, transport equipment, motor cycles, iron and steels, medicine, chemicals and allied products, cotton yarn, etc. The major items now imported from Myanmar through barter mechanism are betel nuts, turmeric, red kidney beans (Rajma), kuth roots, gram, resin, dry ginger, etc.

[[Imphal Airport]] (110&nbsp;km northwest of Moreh) is the nearest airport in India. [[Homalin Airport]] (120&nbsp;km north) and [[Kalaymyo Airport]] (133&nbsp;km south) are the nearest airport in Myanmar.<ref>[http://www.gomapper.com/travel/what-is-the-closest-airport-to/moreh.html What is the closest airport to Moreh], gomapper.com, accessed 14 Sept 2021.</ref>

Moreh is on the [[AH1#India North-East|Asian Highway 1]] (AH1),<ref name=ah1>[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/new-road-rail-links-to-make-manipur-gateway-to-se-asia-cm/article25441980.ece New road, rail links to make Manipur gateway to SE Asia: CM], The Hindu, November 08, 2018.</ref> which is the longest route of the [[Asian Highway Network]], running 20,557&nbsp;km (12,774&nbsp;mi) from Tokyo, Japan via Korea, China, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to the border between Turkey and Bulgaria west of Istanbul where it joins end-on with European route E80, running all the way to Lisbon, Portugal.

[[India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway]], {{convert|1408|km|mi|abbr=on}} long section of AH1, connects [[Imphal]]-Moreh in India with [[Mae Sot]] in Thailand via [[Mandalay]]-[[Kalewa]]-[[Chaung-U Township#Yar Kyi|Yagyi]] in [[Myanmar]].<ref name="Tripoto">{{cite web | title=All you want to know about Delhi to Bangkok Road Trip - Myths & Reality | website=Tripoto | url=https://www.tripoto.com/trip/india-delhi-to-thailand-bangkok-by-road | date=11 September 2015 | access-date=20 September 2015}}</ref> It will boost India's trade and commerce with [[ASEAN]] under [[ASEAN–India Free Trade Area]].<ref name=as1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/highway-pact-after-car-rally/cid/1417019|title=Highway pact after car rally|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Myanmar Road Project Hooks 1.8 Billion Baht From Thailand|url=http://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/burma-road-project-hooks-1-8-billion-baht-from-thailand.html|website=The Irrawaddy|access-date=12 February 2017|date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=riverport1>[http://www.mizzima.com/business-domestic/myanmar-looks-catalyse-river-transport-growth-driver Myanmar to develop river ports], 2017.</ref><ref name=la1>[http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/government-asean-in-talks-to-take-imt-highway-up-to-vietnam/970887/ Asean in talks to take IMT highway up to Vietnam], 12 Dec 2017.</ref> Imphal-Moreh route Its upgrade was already complete by 2017, however it is further being upgraded to Asian Highway Standard in 3 packages, one of which was complete and remaining 2 will be completed by 2023 as per November 2020 status update.<ref name=up1>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/the-trilateral-highway-from-india-to-thailand-that-went-on-the-slow-lane-120111800523_1.html The Trilateral Highway from India to Thailand that went on the slow lane The highway's Imphal-Moreh portion on the Indian side, however, is expected to be completed only by 2023, more than two decades after it was conceptualised Topics], Business Standard, November 18, 2020.</ref> In November 2020, Bangladesh expressed interest to join this Highway.<ref name=up3>Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, [https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bangladesh-wants-to-join-imt-highway/articleshow/79802686.cms?from=mdr “Bangladesh wants to join India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway”], The Economic Times, December 18, 2020.</ref> India plans to upgrade route from [[Zokhawthar]] in [[Mizoram]] to [[Tedim]] in [[Chin State]] of Myanmar as an additional connect to the IMT trilateral highway.<ref name=up4>[https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-role-of-bimstec-in-revitalising-indias-northeast/ The Role of BIMSTEC in Revitalising India’s Northeast], ORF, 23 Jun 2021.</ref>

[[Imphal railway station#Jiribam|Jiribam–Imphal line]], 111&nbsp;km long line, has a likely completion date of December 2023 as per August 2021 status update.<ref name=railne1>[https://assamtribune.com/north-east/imphal-4th-capital-city-in-ne-to-come-on-railway-map-within-27-months-1203016 Imphal, 4th capital city in NE, to come on railway map within 27 months], Assam Tribune, 13 Sep 2021.</ref><ref name=railt1>[https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/boost-for-north-east-indian-railways-jiribam-imphal-rail-line-project-set-for-completion-soon/1877289/ Jiribam-imphal rail line set for completion soon], Financial Express, 24 Feb 2020.</ref>

''Imphal–Moreh-Kalay line'',  the Jiribam–Imphal line will be extended nearly 70&nbsp;km to Moreh on the [[India–Myanmar border]]. Under the [[Look East policy (India)|Look East policy]] of India, the line will be extended from Moreh to the existing railhead of [[Rail transport in Myanmar|Myanmar rail network]] at [[Kalay]] (also called Kale and Kalemyo) to form part of the ambitious [[Trans-Asian Railway]].<ref name=railne1/> Indian plans to extend Imphal rail link to Moreh and eventually to the Myanmar railway system, allowing onward connectivity to [[Thailand]] and [[China]]. In 2007, plan for Imphal-Moreh was expressed by India.<ref name=tra1/><ref name=econ1>"The Mayhem in Manipur", [[The Economist]], 1 May 2007.</ref> In January 2018, India initiated a preliminary survey to determine the feasibility of establishing a rail link parallel to the ''India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway''. Japan expressed interest in collaborating with India and funding the proposed rail link.<ref name="HBL1">{{cite web |title=NHAI issues EPC contract for highway project linking India, Myanmar, Thailand |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/nhai-issues-epc-contract-for-highway-project-linking-india-myanmar-thailand/article10020435.ece |website=Hindu Business Line |access-date=5 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>