Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 01:
The rugged and potholed stretch of National Highway 39 from Imphal to Mao that gives a harrowing experience to the travellers and long distance drivers will soon become a thing of the past if the assurances given by the authorities concerned are any indications.
The 235.8 km long route from Dimapur in Nagaland to Maram in Manipur is under the supervision of 15 BRTF stationed at Kohima while the rest of the route from Maram upto Moreh is being maintained by the State PWD.
A team of State mediapersons, who recently travelled along the National Highway witnessed signs of total negligence in maintaining the route on the Manipur side though the stretch Nagaland side is excellent.
When contacted, CO of 15 BRTF Col Devendra told The Sangai Express that within the next 5-6 days construction and repairing works along the route from Mao to Maram would be taken up.
The CO informed that correction works like laying of required materials including bitumen and pebbles, etc have also been started.
But the works have been halted due to non release of fund from the Centre.
"Now, money is not the problem and we will make the road as good as we did in Nagaland," the CO said, while expressing hope that the works under the Sewak project would be completed very soon if the weather permits.
The officer, however, pointed out that the road stretch from Mao to Maram is the toughest one to maintain along the entire length of the National Highway lying within the jurisdiction of the BRTF because of frequent landslides and unstability of the soil.
The area also receives maximum rainfall which is a deterrent, he added.
Striking a positive note, Chief Engineer of the State PWD Ng Rashtrapati also assured that both the construction and maintenance works along the route from Imphal to Maram will be started very soon.
Depending on the condition of the 75 km-long route, the works would be expedited, he said, adding that the Hot Mixed Plants meant for such construction are readied.
The whole task would be completed within March, he assured, adding that the required materials have also been laid at the respective site where the repairing work would be taken up.
Hot Mixed Plant machine would be utilised from Sekmai to Senapati, he informed, adding that beyond that upto Maram necessary requiring works would be done to level the pot holes and if necessary such machines would also be pressed into service.