"Imphal-Jiri line is targeted to complete by next year"

IMPHAL, Nov 9 : While maintaining that work on NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) was impeded by rainfall and continuous movement of heavy vehicles, BRO Director General Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar has assured that the highway development work would be fully completed by December 2013.

Lt General S Ravi Shankar, Director General of Border Roads Organisation, speaks to media.

The DG who halted at Imphal for a few hours on his way to Aizawl asserted that the commitment he and the Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju gave to the people of Manipur some months back to complete the highway development work by December 2013 would be fulfilled. This does not mean that BRO does not face any difficulties due to rainfall and continuous movement of heavy vehicles both loaded and unloaded.

In addition, BRO endured scarcity of sand and stones required for the highway development work, Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar said.

Stones/boulders found along the highway are not enough for its development. Nevertheless, stones are being quarried from places wherever available.

During the last five/six months, BRO has been able to make considerable progress on the highway work.

Notwithstanding diverse comments coming from different quarters about the highway, the monitoring committee has been assessing the highway after every two months. The periodic assessments indicated remarkable progress, claimed the DG.

Though most people are interested in the black-topping part, 70 per cent of labour input went in preparing underground layers and surface.

Once preparation of underground layers and surface is completed, black-topping the highway would not take much time.

During the last nine months, a 21 Km long portion has been black-topped and it is being planned to black-top another 30 Km in the next four months.

One-way travelling time on Imphal-Jiribam highway has been reduced from 15 hours to 11 hours, claimed the DG.

During his interaction with media persons at 25 BRTF Hqs, Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar informed that the first phase of double laning the Yai-ngangpokpi-Jessami road (170.88 Kms) has already commenced on Ukhrul-Yain-gangpokpi section (21 Kms).

The entire project is planned for completion in three years.

25 BRTF is also constructing a 10 Km long fence along Indo-Myanmar border of which 40 per cent has already been completed.

He also informed that the rehabilitation work between 125 to 185 Kms on Chu-rachandpur-Tipaimukh road is under progress.

The DG informed that work on Singhat-Sinzawl-Tuivai river road would start very shortly as it has been included in the execution stage after persistent efforts. Talking about Indo-Myanmar Friendship road, Lt Gen Ravi Shankar claimed that the BRO has already completed the 160 Kms long Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road.