Ms. Vinita Ranade, External Affairs Division, World Bank, visited the World Bank funded Road Project, the Aizawl- Thenzawl-Lunglei road on the 10th and 11th April 2010. Mr. K.Sawmvela, Project Director, World Bank Project, PWD, Mizoram and I&PR officials of the Govt. of Mizoram accompanied her on the trip. The visit was intended to study the impact of the roads constructed with funds provided by the World Bank especially for the Aizawl-Thenzawl-Lunglei Road.

Ms. Ranade had interactions with the leaders of the Village Councils (VCs), Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) – Mizo Womens’ Organization,  Mizoram Upa Pawl(MUP) – Mizoram Elders’ Association at Aibawk, Thenzawl and Haulawng and with prominents citizens in Lunglei. The members of the public were unanimous in saying that the raod has opened up a new era of development for the villages along the road in particular and the entire southern part of Mizoram in general. She also met Mr. P.C. Lalthanliana, Minister of State at Thenzawl and Mr. S. Laldingliana, Parliamentary Secretary in Lunglei. The two leaders voiced that the road would usher in development at an accelerated pace in the southern part of Mizoram and open up new vistas in the areas of transport,  trade&commerce, agricultural marketing and open up employment opportunities.  In Lunglei, she also met Mrs. M. Zohmingthangi IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Lunglei District, who said the road will benefit the people of Lunglei in big way, never thought of before.


The immediate positive impacts which the road has brought in are – the distance between Aizawl to Lunglei which was 235 kms. has been reduced to just 164 kms. and the eight hour arduous journey has now become an enjoyable five hour trip and further it has opened up new avenues of employment for the people of the villages along the Road. Once the road is fully operational, it will have a huge  positive economic impact for the southern part of Mizoram and will give bring in a lot of development