Aizawl: K Vanlalvena, Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha member, on Thursday urged the Centre during the ongoing Parliament session to declare two key roads, along the Mizoram-Myanmar border, as national highways.Speaking during the Zero Hour, Vanlalvena urged the Centre to accord national highway status to the Hnahthial–Tarpho–Khawhri–Cherhlun–Thingsai–Bualpui H–Saisihchhuah road and the Hnahthial–Tuipui D–Darzo–Vanlaiphai–Sangau–Pangkhua–Saisihchhuah road. Both roads connect to Myanmar and are located in South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district.Vanlalvena informed the House that the Myanmar govt has already completed construction of a double-lane road from Hakha, the capital city of Chin State, up to Saisihchhuah, a border village in Mizoram.“The ministry of commerce and industry has already declared Saisihchhuah as a border haat, a mini border trade centre. However, the border roads have not yet been connected to the border haat village,” the MP said.“If and when construction of the two proposed roads connecting Saisihchhuah village is completed and they are declared national highways, it will amount to implementation of the Centre’s Act East Policy. It will also be important for national security and for uplifting the economy of the tribal people of Mizoram,” Vanlalvena said.The MP also underscored the need to widen the Aizawl–Sairang road into a four-lane highway, noting that vehicular traffic has been increased significantly, following the inauguration of the Sairang railway station.
