New Delhi proposes sister city with Myanmar

In a step to strengthen Indo-Myanmar relationship, New Delhi has sent a proposal for developing a ‘Sister City’ between Manipur’s capital Imphal and Monywa of Myanmar.

“India might actually invest to open up more ‘Sister Cities’ in Myanmar,” official sources  from Imphal told Deccan Herald.

The senior Manipur government official further added that New Delhi has proposed Naypyidaw to develop a ‘sister-city’ relationship model between Imphal and Monywa of Saigang division of the neighbouring country, across the porous international border to boost India’s Act East policy.

Monywa is 450 km away from Imphal, and is an important town in Sagaing division and it comes in the route of the much cherished Imphal-Mandalay bus route, which India is all set to open very soon.

New Delhi has reportedly sent a proposal, which was shared with Manipur government, where the Centre has suggested a framework for the respective jurisdiction on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit in conformity with the laws and policies of India as well as the existing bilateral agreements between the two countries, the official further added.

New Delhi feels that if the ‘Sister City’ model can be developed; it will help in more people to people contact between the two countries. Apart from this, the Indian proposal, which is now being studied by the Manipur government also suggests that the sister cities — Imphal and Monywa — will undertake exchanges involving delegations, interaction between institutions and sharing of experiences in the area of mutual interest. 

The two cities will do ‘local level’ cooperation in the field of service delivery, civic administration, land use planning, transport, shelter, education, culture, sports, waste water and solid waste management, public health, science and technology, tourism, heritage management and urban renewal energy among others.