Imphal: Fulfilling the long-awaited dream of the people of Manipur, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated the Makru Bridge located at Tamenglong district of Manipur.
The Union Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for other 15 National Highway projects at a grand function at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, here. The projects cover a total length of 298 kilometers with a sum investment of Rs 4,148 crore.
The inaugurated projects included 2 Laning of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 from Wangjing to Khongkhang (46 Km costing Rs 869 crore), Strengthening of existing 2 Lane including the construction of Paved shoulder from Mao to Senapati section (48 Km costing Rs 235 crore), Strengthening of existing 2 Lane including the construction of Paved shoulder of Senapati-Kangpokpi-Koubru Leikha section (27 Km costing Rs 140 crore) and Superstructure Bridge over River Makru on Jiribam-Barak road on NH-37 with approaches (855 meter costing Rs 62 crore).
Foundation stones were laid for 12 projects including Improvement/Up-gradation to 4 Lane Highway from Taphoukuki to Daili section of Imphal-Kohima road (13 Km with a project cost of Rs 379 crore), Widening and Improvement with Paved shoulders from Khudengthabi (LHS) & Lokchao (RHS) to Moreh Friendship Bridge of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 (19 Km costing Rs 278 crore), Improvement/ Up-gradation to 4 Lane Highway fromDaili to Kuraopokpi section of Imphal-Kohima road (12 Km costing Rs 269 crore), Widening and Improvement with Paved shoulders from Khongkhang to Khudengthabi (LHS) & Lokchao (RHS) of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 (10 Km costing Rs 260 crore), 2 Laning with Paved shoulder from Old Tamenglong to near Phelong of Tamenglong Mahur section (12 Km costing Rs 234 crore), 2 Laning with Hard shoulders from Bendramai to Zuimi of Maram-Paren section of NH-129A (18 Km costing Rs 232 crore), Improvement/Up-gradation to 4 Lane Highway from Kuraopokpi to Sekmai section of Imphal Kohima Road (11 Km costing Rs 229 crore), 2 Laning with Hard shoulders from Maram Centre to Maram Duigan of Maram-Peren section of NH-129A (22Km costing Rs 226 crore), Improvement/Upgradation to 4 Lane Highway from Sekmai to Nilakuthi section of Imphal Kohima Road (11 Km costing Rs 212 crore), 2 Laning with Paved shoulder from Keithelmanbi to Kotlen of Imphal to Jiribam section of NH-37 (17 Km costing Rs 195 crore), 2 Laning with Hard shoulders from Maram Duigan to Willong Khullen of Maram-Peren section of NH-129A (18 Km costing Rs 188 crore) and 2 Laning with Paved shoulder from Oriental College to Keithelmanbi of Imphal to Jiribam section of NH-37 (13 Km costing Rs 140 crore).
Gadkari expressed his firm belief that under the visionary leadership of chief minister N. Biren Singh, Manipur would transform socio-economically and become one of the prosperous states in the country.
He said the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had always given priority to the development of Northeastern states.
Asserting that there is no dearth of funds in the central government, he urged the state government to cooperate with his ministry and expedite the works to the optimum and also asked the authorities to solve any issues in land acquisition and environment clearance of the projects at an early date.
Stating that the country had incurred a large amount of expenses in importing petroleum products, he informed that the central government is working on diversification of agriculture into the energy and power sector. He stressed the need to create employment potential in the backward area of the country, by making agriculture economically viable, which would help in eradicating poverty. Expressing happiness in his ability to contribute to the development of the road infrastructure of the State, he stated that the National Highway projects which were inaugurated today would further boost the overall development of the state.
He informed that the ministry had already sanctioned DPR of Rs 5,102 crore and projects costing around Rs 10,671 crore would be sanctioned for the year 2021-22. He also added that the Annual Plan for the state had been raised to Rs 5,000 crore from the earlier plan of around Rs 300 crore. Assuring that the ministry has no lack of resources, he sought the support of the people in carrying out development projects. He assured to include the expansion of 350 Km of National Highways in Phase –II of Bharatmala Projects. He also announced the establishment of a Model Inspection and Certification Centre in the state with state of art equipment to test the fitness of vehicles. He also accorded sanctions for elevated highway project with a cost of Rs. 5,000 crore and asked the state government to complete the DPR and start the tender process. He also cleared and sanctioned certain projects proposed by the chief minister.
Biren said the inauguration of Makru Bridge was a milestone achievement for enabling seamless movement of goods and services along the NH-37 bringing relief to both transporters and the general public. Informing that the construction of Barak bridge would also be completed before December this year, he maintained that the government had been extending all possible assistance in removing difficulties for timely completion of the bridge.
Biren requested the Union minister to consider sanction of the proposal of significant projects submitted by the state government. The proposal included up-gradation of 7 state roads of strategic and economic importance covering a total length of 433 Km into National Highways, construction of Trans Manipur Highway of approximately 800 Km along the state’s border by upgrading and reconstruction of existing state roads, Four Laning of Imphal-Moirang Road considering the cultural and commercial importance of the road with a proposal for full compensation for land acquisition to be borne by NHIDCL, to provide a road network of around 1,040 Km for direct and intra connectivity between hill districts, to fast track the implementation of the Elevated Highways project to mitigate the inconvenience in the Imphal City, improvement of road from Kangpokpi to Tamei proceeding to Tenning under Inter-State Connectivity Scheme or any other scheme of the ministry and extending of Hill Area Development Programme to remaining hill districts of the state with a request to enhance allocation to at least Rs100 crore per district.
He assured the commitment of the state government to extend all possible efforts to ensure the completion of projects on time and sought to continue unwavering support and guidance from Gadkari’s side in the future.
Union minister of state for development of North Eastern region and ministry of cooperation B.L. Verma, Manipur’s works minister Th. Biswajit Singh, MPs Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze Leishemba Sanajaoba were among others at the function. Nitin Gadkari accompanied by Biren, B.L. Verma, ministers, MPs and MLAs visited Makru, Tamenglong district by helicopter and flagged off the transportation at the Makru Bridge.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. is the implementing agency for the projects which were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid.
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