DoNER rejects state request of Rs.30 cr for Sanjenthong
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 17 2013: A request for sanction of Rs.30 crores made by the State government for reconstruction of Sanjenthong, a major bridge over Imphal River that links Imphal East and Imphal West districts, has been rejected by the Ministry of DoNER.

According to a prominent official of the State government, the request for sanction of Rs.30 crores was made by the State government in view of the need to convert Sanjenthong into a four-laned bridge.

However, the Ministry of DoNER replied back that it could sanction only Rs.10 crores for Sanjenthong.

The State government has still no other means to reconstruct this important bridge, he noted.

Sanjenthong was built 40 years ago and it was not so congested at a time when there was no division into Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

However, there has been heavy traffic congestion over this bridge mostly during office hours in the last few years with major government offices located in both Imphal East and Imphal West besides increase in the number of motor vehicles plying on the roads of the twin-district capital.

DoNER rejects state request of Rs.30 cr for Sanjenthong

There are several important offices and buildings in the heart of Imphal East at Palace Gate and Porompat.

Some of these important offices and buildings are Agriculture, Veterinary, Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Forests, CC Higher Secondary Schools, Govindaji Temple, Hapta Kangjeibung, Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre, MFDC Hall, Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Art and Culture, All India Radio, Royal Palace, MB College, City Convention Centre, DDK Imphal, JNIMS and others.

Sanjenthong is the best route for people to interlink between Imphal East and Imphal West districts and so it is often congested during office hours.

The traffic regulations taken up jointly by Transport Department, Imphal Municipal Council and Traffic Police in Imphal area cannot ease the problem of traffic congestion over Sanjenthong.

Moreover, the road lying on the north of Chief Minister's Bungalow near Sanjenthong is also blocked from evening till early morning in the aftermath of several attacks carried out by UG outfits at the Chief Minister's residence.

DSP of Imphal West Traffic Police, Y Victoria told Hueiyen Lanpao that the roads in Imphal East and Imphal West have been widened, but Sanjenthong remains narrow as it is, unable to maintain smooth traffic flow.

The problem of traffic congestion over Sanjenthong cannot be solved unless a new bridge is constructed, she asserted.

Another official of Transport Department said that the Traffic Police should consider if they can make one-way over Sanjenthong, but there is problem of alternative route.

Thambuthong Bridge, where the traffic from Sanjenthong could be diverted, is also under construction.

The traffic congestion at Sanjenthong can be somehow reduced only after the completion of Thumbuthong, he noted.