Tupul-Imphal rail line gets green signal
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 25 2012: Even as construction of railway lines from Jiribam to Tupul is going on in full swing, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure has given approval to the commencement of work on laying the rail line further from Tupul to Imphal.

The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the Committee today in tune with the proposal of Ministry of Railways to extend the new broad gauge line from Tupul to Imphal.

Furthermore, the meeting approved granting an amount of Rs 4444 crores for the said purpose.

Twenty five percent of the whole amount is to be borne from the General Budgetary Support (GBS) of Railways while the remaining 75 percent by the Ministry of Finance.

According to official sources, the new broad-gauge line from Tupul in Tamenglong district to Imphal will be completed by March 2016 and an expenditure of Rs 682 crores has been incurred till March 31 2011.This project will cover Imphal East, Tamenglong and Senapati district.

The sources further revealed that on completion, the new railway line project will provide rail connectivity to Imphal with the national mainstream.

It would also make possible direct movement of freight and passengers from this part of the country to the other parts.

According to another source, the new project of the Ministry of Railways is a part of the Look East Policy of the India Government.

The India Government has further planned to provide railway line to connect Imphal and Moreh.

Moreover, it has vision to connect with South Asian countries through Myanmar once the connectivity to Moreh is completed.

The process of constructing the railway line from Jiribam to Tupul is underway in full swing.

The Jiribam to Tupul railway line was included in the 2003-2004 budgets after abandoning the earlier proposed project from Diphu station in Assam to Karong in Manipur which was sanctioned in 1997-98, the source added.

The Jiribam-Tupul railway line is a national project taken up by the Union Government.

The project will have 107 minor bridges, 7 major bridges and three Road Over Bridges and two Road under Bridges.

It will also have 35 tunnels in 39401 running metres.

Up till now, works for 30 minor bridges, 3 Road Over Bridges and 2 Road under Bridges have been completed.

Tunneling work for 2826.90 metres has also been completed so far.

The project is targeted to be completed by March 2014 .

The source further stated that the length of Tupul-Imphal railway line would be 26.925 kms.

The final location survey has already been done.

The destination of Tupul-Imphal railway line is expected to be stationed in Konthoujam Assembly Constituency.

To take advantage of the project, the IOC is planning to open its Oil Depot at Chingmeirong and the State Government has allotted land for the purpose.

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