Aizawl, April 2 Mizoram's sole Rajya Sabha member, K. Vanlalvena, urged the Centre on Thursday to expedite the construction of a bridge connecting Kawpuichhuah in the Lunglei district with Bangladesh to strengthen trade and connectivity between the two nations, according to an official statement.
Speaking during the ongoing Parliament Budget session, Vanlalvena noted that despite a trade agreement with Bangladesh being signed a decade ago, little progress had been made.
Kawpuichhuah is a proposed integrated check post (ICP) and land port serving as a key border trade point between India and Bangladesh. It is located approximately 11.5 km from the nearest notified town, Tlabung, in the Lunglei district.
The MP expressed gratitude that construction has begun on another bridge over the Khawthlang Tuipui river near the Bangladesh border, which is being built at a cost of Rs 54 crore and overseen by the Union Home Ministry.
Highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in the border region, Vanlalvena recounted his inspection of Border Security Force (BSF) outposts along the Indo-Bangladesh border in 2021.
He said that many BSF camps remained completely inaccessible by road.
"Local leaders and BSF officials have reported tragic instances where patients lost their lives simply because of the total lack of connectivity in these remote areas," K. Vanlalvena was quoted as saying in the statement.
The MP said he had previously submitted a formal request to the Union Home Ministry to construct the Khawthlang Tuipui bridge to resolve these hardships.
He thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for prioritizing the project following his formal representation.
Vanlalvena emphasised that the Khawthlang Tuipui bridge will be vital for military logistics and the welfare of border residents, demonstrating that the central government does not neglect underdeveloped and remote regions.