TDC appeals for support in NH-53 endeavour
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 15 2010: The Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC), Manipur has appealed to all organisations, NGOs and the public to extend support towards its resolution not to ply any vehicle along the Imphal-Dimapur stretch of NH-39 .

Speaking to media persons here this afternoon, TDC vice-president Thounaojam Ibohal admitted that they were not in a position to enforce its resolution by themselves.

Saying that they were aware of movement of some vehicles with registration numbers belonging to Assam and Nagaland along NH-39 for the past one week, Ibohal said that members of the Council could not ban movement of vehicles along the highway and hence the appeal to the public.

Repairing work on in full swing on NH-53

The TDC resolved to take NH-53 instead of NH-39 in pursuit of the demands which include compensation of the vehicles set ablaze in Nagaland in the first week of May this year, deployment of adequate security along ImphalDimapur section of the highway and assurance to stop collection of illegal taxes from vehicles along this stretch. Recalling that there have been numerous instances when drivers and transporters were assaulted and even killed along the highway, Ibohal said that the TDC has been assaulted and even killed along the highway, Ibohal said that the TDC has been extending all possible assistance in the repairing work of NH 53.The inability to develop the 222 Kms long highway for the last 40 years is a testimony of the Government's lack of sincerity and commitment, he asserted.

TDC general secretary Ng Haridas said that 154 truck loads of shingles and boulders have been sent for repairing NH 53 so far.

Further, 116 trucks loaded with boulders and 15 trucks loaded with shingles would depart for NH 53 from Imphal by July 17 .

For this, he appealed to concerned truck owners to send their trucks for loading with shingles and boulders at Langjing at 7 am tomorrow.

So far, people have donated Rs 1.02 lakh towards TDC's initiative to repair NH 53, Haridas said.

He also appealed to the contractors engaged for repairing the highway to work with a sense of sacrifice without any reservation.

Haridas further conveyed that the Council has made arrangements for providing refreshment items to passengers of buses and Tata Sumos travelling along NH 53 as and when they are stranded due to the pathetic condition of the highway.