Kaladan

Kaladan refers to a transboundary river in South Asia that rises in the Indian state of Manipur and flows southwest into Myanmar, where it ultimately reaches the Bay of Bengal near Sittwe. The river lies at the heart of cross-border links between India and Myanmar and runs through a region characterized by hilly terrain, forested areas, and rural communities that depend on fisheries and agriculture.

Geographically, the Kaladan basin spans parts of Manipur and the western Myanmar borderlands. In Myanmar, the river traverses areas in Chin and Rakhine states before discharging into the sea. The Kaladan system is linked to inland waterways and overland routes that have been part of regional development discussions for decades, reflecting broader efforts to improve connectivity in Northeast India and Southeast Asia.

A major infrastructure initiative associated with Kaladan is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), launched by India to create a multi-modal corridor connecting Kolkata Port with Sittwe in Myanmar. The project envisions navigation on the Kaladan up to a river port at Paletwa in Myanmar, combined with an overland road network to link to India’s northeastern states. The aim is to provide an alternative trade route to shorter, land-based links and to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration. Progress has been uneven, with various technical, security, and political factors influencing implementation.

Overall, Kaladan stands as a symbol of cross-border hydrology and regional infrastructure planning in the India–Myanmar context.