BCIM Car Rally: Participants to brace up for bumpy-dusty ride through State
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 08 2013:
The much-awaited International Car Rally, which is being organized to promote regional trade relations and co-operation between Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) would be passing through the State along NH 37 .
But more than the thrill of a 'bumpy and dusty' ride to be experienced by the participants along the perpetually pathetic stretch of the National Highway from Jiribam to Imphal, the event is likely to put the State Government in a very 'disgracefully uncomfortable' situation.
The cross-country car rally which would start its journey from Kunming in Yunnan province of China would pass through Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.
The car rally would be arriving at Imphal on February 26 next after experiencing a bumpy and dusty ride along the 'almost' abandoned NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road) before proceeding to Kolkata where the rally would conclude.
The idea of holding a Kunming-to-Kolkata Road Rally across one of the arteries of the Southern Silk Route took shape with a resolution at the 2006 Delhi Forum meeting but it could not take place due to various reasons, both natural (tsunami) and political.
So, after many false starts and near abandonment of the attempt, 13 participants from the 4 BCIM countries (5 Chinese, 4 Indians, and 2 each from Myanmar and Bangladesh) would gathered at Kunming on 6 February 2012 to commence their 9 day cross-country odyssey of almost 2500 kms along the Southern Silk Route, which has been effectively closed for traffic since the Second World War.
Nonetheless, with the stage set, after being flagged off by the Vice-Governor of Yunnan province, escorted through Myanmar, and received by the Minister of Communications of Bangladesh in Dhaka, the Route Survey team would finally arrive at Kolkata where they would be welcomed by Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai.
Addressing media persons at his office chamber in Old Secretariat building here in connection with the proposed passing of the car rally through Imphal on February 26, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar informed that improvement of the road near Oriental College stretching over distance of around 3.22 kms would be taken care of by the Public Works Department, Government of Manipur.
However, the major portion of the road would not be under the responsibility of the PWD since the repairing work along the road has been taken over by BRO.
So, the BRO would hopefully try their level best to keep the road in a desirable manner.
On the road blockade imposed along NH-37 stretch from Wahengbam Leikai traffic point to Oriental College today by local residents, the Minister maintained that it was due to communication gap between agitators and the PWD.
The Minister explained that in consideration of the problems faced by the people, the construction work along the road stretch was carried out by HVS Constructions from its own funds without any work order from the PWD.
However, since the construction process could not be completed without the work order on legal grounds, it was stopped midway.
Nonetheless, the work order has been released in favour of HVS Construction by the State Government on December 31 last and hence the construction process would be completed shortly, he assured.
Furthermore, the Minister informed that the process of tender bid for a Rs 277 crore project under Asian Development Bank for construction of 98 km long road stretch from Tupul to Kasom would be approved very soon while the construction of the 89 km long road stretch from Bishnupur to Nungba at an estimated cost of Rs 147.7 crores has been approved.
On the other hand, construction of the road from Kangpokpi to Tamei at an estimated cost of Rs 89 crores and from Tamei to Tamenglong at an estimated cost of Rs 66 crores has already been started, he added.