15 April 2026 – Residents of Tedim town in Chin State are struggling with a sharp, sustained appreciation in the cost of essential goods, a crisis directly attributed to escalating checkpoint fees along the vital Kalay-Tedim transit corridor.
The route is heavily controlled by multiple security forces, including military forces from the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) at key locations like the 8-Mile and 9-Mile gates, as well as various armed resistance groups.
This checkpoint proliferation occurs amid escalating conflict across Chin State, where the SSPC has intensified its aerial campaigns and deployed reinforcements along critical routes like the Kalay-Taingen Road.
Transport operators reported that passenger and cargo vehicles are forced to pay between 50,000 Kyats and over 100,000 Kyats per checkpoint, along with additional levies at various points between Tedim and the 9-Mile area. These high transport costs are immediately passed on to consumers, resulting in minimal or no profit for the operators.
The prices of essential commodities in Tedim have reportedly doubled. Key staples such as rice now cost between 150,000 and 200,000 Kyats per bag, while fuel ranges from 28,000 to 41,000 Kyats per gallon. Other goods show similar spikes, with eggs now costing 500–1,000 Kyats each, and chicken reaching 25,000–36,000 Kyats per viss.
Further complicating travel, the main Kalay-Thantlang Road remains inaccessible, forcing reliance on alternative, longer routes where passenger fares alone have reached approximately 180,000 Kyats per person.
Residents warn that continued high fees and declining cargo flow will keep prices elevated, further straining local livelihoods. – Reporting by Daniel
