Keishampat-Malom road expansion : Govt determined to construct road at least superficially
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 05 2014:
The expanded portion of Tidim Road from Keishampat junction to Malom would be constructed and beautified at least superficially ahead of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2014 .
The State Government is presently considering on what would be the condition of the Keishampat-Malom section of Tidim Road by October-November this year.
This particular section of NH 150 was expanded in view of the rail-fed oil depot being constructed at Malom and elevation of Imphal airport to the level of an interna- tional airport which would entail movement of greater number of heavier as well as light vehicles along the highway section.
For expansion of the Keishampat-Malom section, the State Government has already spent Rs 80 crore, informed a well placed source.
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After necessary land was acquired and the existing structures demolished to pave way for the highway expansion project, the State Government sent a DPR along with a proposal to invest requisite fund for construction of the expanded highway section to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India but the Ministry turned down the proposal.
As such, the State Government has no other option but re-send the same proposal in the next financial year.
The State Government has a keen desire to make the expanded section a standard road of high quality ahead of this year's Manipur Sangai Festival.
However, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways unwilling to invest in the highway expansion project, there is little possibility of fulfilling the State Government's desire.
For the time being, the Government has limited its plan to making the highway section pleasing to onlookers, particularly visitors of the Manipur Sangai Festival.
The Government is minutely discussing the matter.
Moreover, the Government has already started constructing the highway section in whatever way it can.
Taking serious note of the messy appearance of the highway section as a result of demolition of several structures and remnants left behind, the Government is considering about asking private owners to tidy up things as early as possible.
After the highway section was expanded, electric poles are now standing in the middle of the road.
It is reported that these electric poles would be relocated on the margin of the road.
Once the electric poles are removed, vehicles would start moving on the newly expanded portion.
But there is also an apprehension that the newly paved road surface may sink under the weight of heavy vehicles.
The Government has started laying out a thick layer of stones on the expanded road portion and it is being levelled with rollers.
The stones would be laid out with a certain inclination that water flows from the middle of the road to the road side drain.
In the meantime, laying of earth and levelling work has also started.
But the work is being severely hampered by domestic water pipes which were laid under ground.
When the newly earth and stones were levelled using rollers, almost all the pipes got snapped.
When potable water is supplied through the main pipe line, water gushed out from the snapped domestic water pipes which makes the area wet and soggy.
As such, rollers get stuck in these areas.
Despite all these odds, the State Government is determined to construct the road and black top it at least superficially before the Manipur Sangai Festival.
Another area of concern is the road side drain.
It is not clear as yet whether the drains would be constructed with RCC or kept as it is with some beautification work, conveyed the source.