Manipur Min urges Centre for Imphal bye pass construction for NH39

New Delhi, Jun 25 (UNI) Manipur Works Minister K Ranjit Singh has called on the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu and requested him for the construction of an Imphal bye pass for NH 39.

The meeting was attended by the commissioner (Works) Henry K Heni and the Chief Engineer Tonsana accompanied with the Works Minister K Ranjit Singh here last evening.

In the half an hour meeting, Singh expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways for increasing the Plan size for the current year in respect of National Highways in Manipur to Rs 99 crore.

He stated that NH 39, the lifeline for the State of Manipur and the only functional route for transportation of all essential commodities passed through the heart of capital city, Imphal, which was also the commercial centre of the state. This resulted in heavy traffic congestion due to rapid flow of vehicles creating an unmanageable situation.

The Works Minister reminded that the Union Ministry had earlier approved the construction of a Imphal Bye Pass as per the alignment proposed by the state and an amount of Rs 7 lakh was also provided as provision for land acquisition. However, due to problem in land acquisition, the project could not be taken up till date and subsequent funding was dropped with effect from the year 2003-04.

As the approved alignment was no longer feasible in view of the expansion of the Imphal Air Port and the Central Manipur varsity campus, the Works Minister proposed for a new alignment from Pheidinga to Canchipur on the eastern side of the existing NH 39 along Imphal East District.

As there was urgent need of the Bye Pass, he urged the Union Minister for taking up the construction of the Bye Pass at the earliest.

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