The construction of a cross-border road under the ambitious Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project is likely to miss its deadline because of an indefinite strike called by a landowners’ association based in south Mizoram.

The road project, that will link south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district with Myanmar, has come to a standstill from Wednesday following an indefinite strike by Lawngtlai District Land Owners’ Association over compensation, sources said on Thursday.

Association president H. Remmawia told The Telegraph that according to a resolution adopted at the meeting, a “stay order” was served to the agencies to stop construction of the project on Wednesday. He said the association will set a deadline for the government to pay compensation to over 300 landowners, whose land has been damaged because of the construction, failing which the strike will be indefinite till they are paid.

Remmawia alleged that state chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, at the direction of the present government, recently cancelled the detailed project report and proposal for compensations, which were recommended and submitted to the Centre by the erstwhile Congress government. He said at least 331 landowners have been waiting for 12 years for compensation amounting to over Rs 50 crore.

Launched in 2008 by the erstwhile UPA government as part of its Look East (now Act East) policy, the road component of the project on Mizoram’s side is scheduled to be completed by March this year.

Although the project was initially scheduled to be completed by 2014, it was delayed over compensation.

The project, when completed, will link Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district with the western Myanmar town of Paletwa by more than a 110km long road where National Highway 54 passes by.

State PWD officials said more than 81 per cent of work has been completed.