Moreh, India

Demographics

In the 2011 India census, Moreh had a population of 16,847. Males were 8,670 while 8,177 were females. Kuki people are native to the town. Moreh had an average literacy rate of 71.47%, lower than the state average of 76.94%: male literacy was around 79.52%, and female literacy was 62.88%. In Moreh, 14.58% of the population was under 6 years of age. The female sex ratio was 943 compared with the state average of 985. The child sex ratio was around 985 compared with the Manipur state average of 930.

Economy

Moreh plays a key role in the development of economy of the state. There are 40 tradable items under the Barter Trade mechanism through Moreh (India-Myanmar Border). Major exports include cement, engineering goods, transport equipment, motor cycles, iron and steels, medicine, chemicals and allied products, cotton yarn, etc. The major items now imported from Myanmar through barter mechanism are betel nuts, turmeric, red kidney beans (Rajma), kuth roots, gram, resin, dry ginger, etc. The volume of trade at Moreh-Tamu Border Point in 2001-02 was ` 95.48 million and in 2009-10 ` 298.19 million - an average increase of 39% p.a. Further, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India has also cleared the operational of "Normal Trade" through Land Customs Station, Moreh.

India’s "Look East" Policy and several new measures taken by both the Central and State Governments to promote and enhanced trade link with SE Asia, provide Manipur with a competitive advantage. In recognition of the potential of Moreh, the Government of India has notified an ICP at Moreh.

Integrated Check Post (ICP) Moreh

The proposed ICP will facilitate speedy movement of export-import consignments and reduce any inconvenience to the general public from any increase in trade from India’s Look East Policy. The state government has identified 18.41 hectares (45.50 acres) of land near Gate No.1 within Customs notified area. RITES, a Central Public Sector undertaking have prepared a DPR for Moreh ICP costing ` 136 crores and is under the process of implementation.

The proposed centre shall have (i) Immigration Department, (ii) local Police including Women Constables for immediate security, (iii) Land Customs Department, (iv) Customs Preventive Department, (v) Forests, (vi) Narcotics & Drug Control Department, (vii) Postal Department, (viii) Bank Counter, (ix) Telecom, (x) Animal Quarantine, (xi) Plant Quarantine, (xii) Quality Certification Inspection Agencies/Export Promotion Councils, (xiii) Trade Facilitation Counter and Trade related Public Bodies, (xiv) Food Testing Lab, (xv) Truck Parking facility, (xvi) Staff Quarters, basic amenities such as Canteen, Truck Drivers’ Rest House, etc....

Remarks

As Moreh shares a border with Myanmar. it is a transit point for trafficking illicit drugs to the international market.

Road to Thailand

India’s foreign minister met with Myanmar’s construction minister in Delhi on the 22nd Feb 2012, and spoke about opening a highway between Moreh, in India, and the Myanmar-Thai border near Mae Sot. Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh and U Thein Sein have set a deadline of 2016 to provide trilateral road connectivity, that would make it possible to drive from India to Thailand via Myanmar.

Trans-Asian Railway

As of 2012, all freight traffic from Asia to Europe goes by sea. The Trans-Asian Railway will enable containers from Singapore, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Korea to travel over land by train to Europe. The Southern Corridor of the Trans-Asian Railway is of prime interest to India. It connects Yunnan in China and Thailand with Europe via Turkey and passes through India.

There is a general understanding between India and Myanmar that their railways will be interconnected via a 346-km line section that will extend from Kalay in Myanmar to Jiribam in India via the border point at Tamu/Moreh, India.

The proposed route will enter India through Tamu and Moreh, then enter Bangladesh through Mahisasan and Shahbajpur and again enter India from Bangladesh at Gede. On the western side, the line will enter Pakistan at Attari. There is a 315 kilometres (196 mi) missing link on this route in the India-Myanmar sector; of this, 180 kilometres (110 mi), in India, is between Jiribam in Manipur and Tamu, Burma in Myanmar. The rail link between Jiribam and Tapul/Imphal has been sanctioned by Indian Railways, but that is unlikely to be completed before 2016. In 2011, construction work was in progress in a 97 kilometres (60 mi) stretch between Jiribam and Tupul/Imphal. India's Ministry Railway has also approved the Tapul/Imphal to Moreh, India/Tamu, Burma link.