Central assistance for Manipur roads demanded

Imphal, Jun 30: Manipur Public Works Department(PWD) Minister K Ranjit has urged Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu to provide assistance to improve the road conditions in the state.

Official sources said here that the NH 39 starts at Numaligarh in Assam and touches Manipur at Mao (212 km) and goes upto Moreh (430.40 km), a border town of Manipur with Myanmar.

''The portion of NH 39 from Mao (212 km) to Maram (235 km) is presently maintained by the BRO and the portion from Maram (235 km) to Moreh (430.40 km) is maintained by the Manipur PWD,'' the sources said.

''The portion from Maram (235 km) to Imphal (311 km) is to be handed over to the BRO before the current monsoon but due to non-completion of about 10 km of ongoing work, the handing over has been delayed to avoid contractual problems,'' Mr Ranjit said.

In view of the heavy rainfall which continues for almost eight months, the state government proposed the inclusion of the portion of the Highways which are not covered by Annual Plan.

The existing alignment of NH 39 which is the lifeline for the state and the only functional route for transportation of all the essential commodities and other merchandise necessary for the survival and development of the state passes right through the heart of the capital city, Imphal, which is also the commercial centre of the state.

This results in heavy congestion of traffic and leads to intrusion to the urban traffic by the Highway traffic.

Mr Ranjit proposed a new alignment on the eastern side of the existing National Highways along Imphal East district for consideration by the Union Ministry.

The state minister said he inspected the Churachandpur-Singhat-Singzwal-Tuivai road of length 160 km approximately.

Tuivai is on the Manipur-Mizoram Border. The road not only connects the capital of Manipur, Imphal, and the capital of Mizoram, Aizawl, but also serves many interior villages situated along the road in both the states.

He proposed upgradation of this road to the standard of National Highways which will also ultimately uplift the economic conditions of the interior villages which have the potential to do so if good transport facilities are provided.

UNI