- Deepening the Malacca straits between Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Opening a new canal across the Kra Isthmus between the Gulf of Siam and Andaman Sea.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is not correct: Malacca strait is “linked” to its economic importance rather than “time of navigation and distance”. The deepening of the strait would certainly help in Increasing the volume of the business because ships of larger sizes can pass through it, there is no significance of distance and navigation.
Statement 2 is correct: Kra isthmus canal, also known as Kra canal, a proposed canal that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea across the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand. It is envisaged that such a canal would improve transportation in the region, similar to the Panama Canal and Suez Canal. The canal would provide an alternative to transit through the Straits of Malacca. Opening Kra isthmus canal will greatly reduce navigation time and distance between India and East-Asia.
