Trilateral Highway Progress Stalls Amid Myanmar Conflict
Armed conflict and infrastructure damage have halted development on the 1,400-kilometer India-Myanmar-Thailand highway.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Asia
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The Myanmar Policy Institute reports that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project remains stalled as military operations and instability plague the region. Ongoing fighting has displaced tens of thousands of residents and left major infrastructure projects in limbo.
Why it matters
The highway is a key component of India's Act East Policy intended to connect the nation to Southeast Asia, but territorial disputes have made its completion unlikely. The instability creates significant humanitarian and logistical challenges across the border corridor.
The 1,400-kilometer highway project relies on the 150-kilometer Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa section and the 121-kilometer Kalewa-Yagyi stretch, the latter of which received INR 1,459.29 crore in Indian grant assistance.
The players
Myanmar Policy Institute
This organization acts as an independent observer and think tank dedicated to analyzing political and social developments within Myanmar.
National Unity Government
This entity functions as a parallel administrative organization formed by elected lawmakers and resistance leaders in opposition to the military junta.
The details
Military operations launched by the junta in June 2026 have disrupted the construction of key segments and the replacement of 69 aging bridges along the corridor. While local resistance bodies have attempted limited repairs using local resources, fighting has affected over 50 villages and stalled development since the 2021 coup.
Timeline
The Trilateral Highway project was first proposed in 2002.
A military coup in February 2021 significantly disrupted progress on the highway project.
Military operations along the corridor intensified in June 2026.
By late June 2026, 30,000 people were displaced along the Kalewa-Monywa corridor.
Manipur officials recorded 24,475 undocumented Myanmar nationals by early September 2026.
Travel Outlook
The persistent disruption of the Trilateral Highway marks a significant departure from the connectivity goals set by India's Act East Policy. This stagnation reflects broader instability in Southeast Asia that continues to impact regional transit and economic cooperation efforts.
Travelers should avoid planning routes through the Sagaing Region due to active military operations and the displacement of thousands of residents. Travelers currently in the area should monitor border status updates in Manipur as over 24,000 undocumented individuals have crossed, impacting local transit.
The takeaway
The stalled highway project serves as a reminder of how regional infrastructure ambitions can be derailed by sudden political shifts and armed conflict. Travelers and organizations should prioritize safety and monitor local ground conditions before engaging with border corridor transit.
Further reading
For more information on infrastructure and regional developments, visit the Asia section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Burma News International.
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