Imphal-Mandalay bus service from April 7
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 18 2020:
Imphal-Mandalay bus service would be launched on April 7 this year, announced Chief Minister N Biren on the floor of the State Assembly today.
Biren who is also in charge of Transport Department made this announcement while discussing a demand for grant pertaining to the Transport Department.
He said that a bus would be flagged off from Mandalay for Imphal on April 7 and another bus to Mandalay would be flagged off from Imphal on the next day.
There would be three trips in a week and the number of trips may be hiked to seven days a week, depending on people's demand.
In Mandalay, U Nay Lin Oo, an executive of Shwe Mandalar Express Co Ltd, said the 14-hour trip is made possible by a partnership with India's Seven Sister Holidays Co Ltd, reports mmtimes from Mandalay.
The agreement between the two companies was signed on Friday, he said and added that the inaugural trip is set for April 7 .
"We have been working on this route since 2018 when the border gate opened," he said.
"It took a long time to make this come true, as immigration and customs had to be negotiated.
"A memorandum of understanding was signed after visits by the presidents of both countries," he added.
The opening of bus service between the two countries aims to promote tourism and visits between people of the two cities.
Informing that Imphal-Mandalay flight service may also be launched soon, the Chief Minister said that tenders have been invited after obtaining due permission from the Civil Aviation Ministry for the same flight service.
Imphal-Mandalay flight service would come under UDAAN scheme, Biren added.
At the same time, the Government has been working to bring Thanlon, Parbung and Jessami under the Manipur Heli Services in addition to Jiribam, Moreh and Tamenglong which have been already covered.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has sanctioned Rs 39 crore for construction of one heliport each at Tameng-long, Moreh, Parbung, Thanlon and Jiribam under UDAAN-2 .
The thrice-a week flight service introduced on Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route recently under UDAAN would be upgraded to seven days a week, Biren informed the House.