Rs 45 Crore sanctioned for unrepaired stretch of Imphal-Jiribam highway
NH-37 far from ready for BCIM car rally
Source: The Sangai Express
NH-37, February 07 2013:
By all accounts, the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of National Highway 37 will not be fit for an international car rally when the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar car rally enters the State on February 26 from Kolkata.
Though the Border Roads Organisation has been maintaining that the Ministry concerned, in this case the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has not sanctioned anything to repair a 26 km stretch of the said highway for the car rally, it has come to light that a sum of Rs 45 crore was recently sanctioned.
The story is this : The Border Roads Organisation did submit the revised cost estimate and detailed project report to repair 41 kms, between Irang and Kambiron, of the highway to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways last year.
Though the sanction was not given immediately, the BRO did start work on 15 kms and managed to black top it.
The remaining stretch of the 26 kms was left unattended and even now there is nothing to suggest that some work has been initiated even though the amount of Rs 45 crores was sanctioned recently.
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During a survey of the highway conducted by The Sangai Express, it was found that the 222 km stretch between Imphal and Jiribam is not fit for an international car rally, though some portions of the stretch under the BRO were found to be in good shape.
With the dry season still on, the highway is dusty with vehicles kicking up dust and reducing visibility considerably.
There are around 10 spots/stretches on the highway which are in pitiable conditions.
This include the stretch from 120 to 121 km on the highway and from 122 to 126 kms near Nungba.
Another stretch of worry is 140 km at Barak.
Though these stretches are relatively free of dust, there are potholes all over the road.
Numerous small bridges along the highway are under construction/repair, but the diversions put up for the vehicles are all in very bad shape.
The wooden backing on the bailey bridges over Barak and Makru rivers are in need of repair.
The stretch after Makru bridge, as one travels from Imphal to Jiribam, is in a pathetic state.
Between 192 and 193 Km black topping has been done only on a single lane, leaving the other side unattended.
On a bright note, the stretch from 147 Km to 161 Km, which has been outsourced to ABCI, appears to be in good shape and highly motorable.