Security strengthened for rail construction work
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 01, 2013:
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has stated that elaborate security arrangements have been made along the railway track construction sites between Tupul near Imphal and Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone of the rail project in November 2004 and construction of four out of the 25 tunnels has been completed.
Though the officials concerned had assured to complete the Tupul-Jiribam section of the project by 2015 and Imphal-Tupul section within the next four years, the timeframe has been delayed by a year owing to frequent economic blockades.
Agitating tribal civil bodies had stopped the railway construction projects off and on since the last few years in pursuit of their respective demands.
To neutralise frequent bandhs and blockades, which have consistently hampered the rail line construction works, three new police stations would be set up at three points close to the track in Tamenglong district, Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said.
Last week the State Cabinet decided to set up six new police stations to provide security to the rail project and other purposes in the hills.
"Of the six new police stations, three would be exclusively set up at Khongsang, Awang Khul and Keimai along Imphal-Silchar highway," Gaikhangam said at a media conference on Friday evening.
"Once the three police stations are set up at these points, it would provide a safe atmosphere to the construction activities," the Home Minister said adding that currently additional State forces like the police, IRB and Manipur Rifles are being deployed along the route.
Apart from the State forces, Central forces are also keeping a sharp vigil, Gaikhangam said.
"Since the rail project is a National project there is no worry for fund but we are more concerned about the hurdles posed by the agitators to the construction progress for which we are compelled to strengthen the security cover there," the Deputy CM said.
The Government has also accelerated process for recruiting 2000 constables in the Police Department and once they are recruited all police stations mostly in the hills would be strengthened, he said.
Notably the rail line would pass through a 141 metre high railway bridge which would be the highest of its kind in the world and a long tunnel stretching 8.9 Kms which would be the second longest in the country, official sources said.