MEA to start work on visa office
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2012:
The proposed international bus service between Imphal and Mandalay was discussed at length between an inter-ministerial team and State Government officials today.
Later the Ministry of External Affairs was entrusted with the task of approaching Myanmar to open a visa office at Imphal.
The 10 member inter-ministerial team led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Transport S Narendra also included officials of the Commerce Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and Customs and DoNER Ministry.
The State Government was represented by Chief Secretary DS Poonia, DGP R Baral, Principal Secretary (Works) Ram Muivah and officials of Finance, Commerce and Industry and Planning Department officials.
The meeting held in the conference hall of Old Secretariat discussed on the need to have Myanmar open a visa office at Imphal before introduction of Imphal-Mandalay bus service.
After discussing the issue threadbare, the Ministry of External Affairs accepted the responsibility of persuading the Government of Myanmar to open a visa office at Imphal.
As the Government of India has a Consulate General office at Mandalay, Myanmarese people would have no difficulty in travelling to Imphal by bus.
With regard to the bad road condition from Kalewa to Malewa in Myanmar, the State Government would be approaching the Government of India to develop this stretch of the highway.
The inter-ministerial team would travel to Moreh by road tomorrow to take stock of the condition of Imphal-Moreh road.
The team would also visit Tamu across the international border before holding another meeting with State Government officials after their return to Imphal, informed a source.
The Imphal-Mandalay bus service has been in the pipeline for quite some time now and is in line with the Look East Policy taken up by the Government of India.