India Vows Full Support for Myanmar’s Quake Recovery; Kaladan and Trilateral Highway Projects to Aid Rebuilding Efforts.

India will play a key role in rebuilding Myanmar’s infrastructure and cultural heritage devastated by the massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28, claiming over 3,000 lives. India’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, said on Thursday that India is committed to assisting Myanmar through both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction efforts.

Thakur, speaking to PTI Videos, said several iconic landmarks — including the Mahamuni Pagoda in Rakhine, Mandalay Palace, U Bein Bridge on the Irrawaddy River, the National Museum, and key government buildings in Naypyidaw — had suffered serious damage in the quake.

“India remains committed to supporting Myanmar not only in the immediate phase but also in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase,” said Thakur. He emphasized Myanmar’s strategic significance in India’s 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies.

The envoy said India will work closely with Myanmar to assess its needs and provide tailored developmental support. He highlighted that India's assistance would extend to restoring vital connectivity through the Sagaing region, which was severely affected, with numerous bridges and infrastructure damaged.

Two flagship connectivity projects — the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway — are central to India's strategic engagement and will play a vital role in Myanmar’s recovery, Thakur noted. The Kaladan project links India’s northeastern states to Myanmar’s Sittwe port, while the Trilateral Highway aims to boost trade across Southeast Asia.

“These projects are supported through grants, lines of credit, and capacity building, forming the backbone of a very substantive developmental partnership between India and Myanmar,” he added.

India has already sent over 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, medicines, and emergency supplies. Thakur praised Myanmar’s authorities for facilitating India’s aid delivery, calling the collaboration a “testament to our very close ties.”

Despite ongoing internal conflicts in Myanmar, Thakur said support for Indian aid has been consistent across regions and political spectrums.

The March 28 earthquake is among the deadliest in Myanmar’s recent history, compounding the country’s challenges of civil unrest and economic instability, and displacing thousands more across central regions such as Sagaing and Mandalay.

ET