Tankers to adopt one-way mode ; Oil tankers leave Jiribam for Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 23 2013: In view of the depleting stock of fuel after a 300 metre long section of Imphal-Dimapur highway sank near Heritage village, Kohima, oil tankers and LPG bullets will travel on the Imphal-Jiribam in convoys with security escorts in one way mode even though Imphal-Jiribam highway is far from being fit.

Chief Minister O Ibobi today held a high level meeting with IOC officials, officials of CAF&PD Department and transporters and discussed on taking the Imphal-Jiribam route, notwithstanding its dilapidated condition, so as to ensure that fuel and LPG are available to the public in adequate quantities.

CAF&PD Minister M Okendro was also present at the meeting.

LPG bullet tankers and oil tankers which left Jiribam this morning are expected to arrive here between 8 am and 9 am tomorrow.

A truck found caught in the treacherous web of NH-37 on July 21, 2013

The meeting discussed about sending empty tankers towards Jiribam tomorrow morning itself once the oil tankers and LPG bullets reach Kotlen even if they cannot reach Imphal by 8/9 am.

For the onward journey to Jiribam, empty tankers and LPG bullet tankers have been kept ready.

The work of mobilising oil tankers and LPG bullets registered under IOC between Khumbong and Keithelmanbi continued till late into the evening.

However, it is not clear whether other trucks would be included in the convoy of oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers which would head for Jiribam tomorrow morning with security escorts.

Meanwhile a source informed The Sangai Express that 23 petrol tankers, 26 diesel tankers, 11 carrying K-oil for IOC and one mix load of petrol and diesel, three petrol tankers, four diesel tankers and 37 LPG bullet tankers for BPCL have left Jiribam for Imphal today.

At the time of filing this report, it is learnt that the tankers have crossed Khong-shang and they will halt the night at Awangkhul.

If the highway holds out, then the tankers are expected to arrive at Imphal tomorrow morning.

With the road sink near Kohima expected to be repaired or a new route charted out only by September, the State Government had studied a number of options to enable heavy vehicles to come to Imphal.

The Ukhrul-Jessami route was also touted as an alternative line, but the conditions of this highway is dicey and drivers and transporters and the local people had expressed their apprehension of opening this route to heavy, loaded vehicles.To take stock of the repairing work at the road sink site at Nagaland, near Kohima, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar is scheduled to proceed to the neighbouring State tomorrow, said a source.