BRO has strategic plans to move to JK
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06, 2013: A strategic plan to shift BRO's 25 BRTF and 765 BRTF to Jammu and Kashmir which are currently maintaining NH 37, NH 150 and some other major roads in Manipur has come to light.

A well-placed source informed that BRO has been in charge of Imphal-Jiribam highway from the time when it was yet to be declared a National Highway by the Government of India.

BRO is still in charge of the highway and in all these years several hundred crores have been invested in the highway.

However, BRO is still unable to develop the highway to the status of a standard highway because of political influence, said the source.

BRO's inability to develop the highway on account of political influence prompted them to draw up a strategic plan of moving away to Jammu and Kashmir.

In case, BRO leaves Manipur, it is believed that the Government of India would come up with an alternative arrangement.

Notably, BRO is in charge of NH-37, parts of NH 150 and some major roads of Manipur.

On account of being a crucial life-line for the State of Manipur, the question of developing NH-37 has become a major issue in the State.

As such, top officials of the Ministry of Road Transport, Government of India had expressed displeasure with the work of the BRO.

Pathetic / Deplorable section of NH-37 connecting Imphal and Jiribam :: July 21, 2013

In view of the dissatisfaction felt by top officials of the Ministry over BRO's performance with regard to Imphal-Jiribam highway, some officials of the State Government have already suggested the Ministry to relieve BRO from the responsibility of maintaining and developing the highway.

Subsequently, the Ministry asked the State Government officials to send written representation for taking away Imphal-Jiribam highway from the hands of BRO for BRO has failed miserably in maintaining and developing the highway in spite of the huge amounts of money invested on the highway.

Earlier, during the previous Government headed by Congress, the State Government lobbied hard to take away Imphal-Jiribam from BRO and bring it under the State PWD.

Even though there is a strategic plan to shift Lamphel-based 25 BRTF and Jiribam-based 765 BRTF to Jammu and Kashmir, and in spite of the Ministry's suggestion, it is unlikely that the highway would be handed over to the State PWD.

Nevertheless, the State Government, capitalising on the situation, would be initiating necessary measures to hand over Imphal-Jiribam highway to a reputed company or agency.

Although there was political influence, BRO's performance regarding NH 37 is dismally poor.

Despite the degree of urgency demanded by the dilapidated condition of Imphal-Jiribam highway, the number of machinery and labourers engaged by BRO on the highway development work is rather disappointing.

It is this slack working style of BRO which irritated the State Government for the past many years, added the source.