2023 target set to complete project
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 05 2022:
Union minister of railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the ministry is targeting to complete the Jiri-Imphal railway line by December 2023.Addressing a press conference at the mini auditorium of City Convention Centre here on Wednesday after attending an intellectual meet organised by BJP Manipur Pradesh, the union minister said that he had assessed the ground situation of the project along with chief minister N Biren on Wednesday and he will review the project every fortnight.
The Rs 14,000 crore project is being taken up with top priority under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Once completed, it will bring major development in the state, especially in economy and tourism sector.
PM Modi had issued strong directive for fast tracking the project while assuring of resolving any issues that may hamper the progress of the work.
Earlier, multiple sections of the project were taken up one by one but from now on, those sections will be taken up simultaneously, he said.
He also informed that a train station will be added in between Jiribam and Bangai Champao.
He further informed that railway services will operate up to Khongsang before March.
There is also need to extend the rail line up to Moreh for which necessary step's will be taken up to conduct survey for final location.
He assured of beginning the survey for a ring- road type local train to facilitate smooth and faster connectivity between the valley and hill districts.
The union minister also said that the PM's approval would be sought as soon as he returns to the national capital while maintaining that works on Jiri-Agartala railway line will begin within one week.
Highway, railway and internet connectivity are the major areas of focus under the NDA government.
Due to its topographical complexity, internet speed is slow in the northeast region.
The internet service being provided in the state comes through Chennai, West Bengal and Assam (Guwahati).
In order to address this issue, high speed optical fibre cable network has been laid from Bangladesh Cox Bazar, which is in trial phase to achieve 10 GBps.
There is plan to increase the speed up to 20 GBps so that every household could get affordable and high speed broadband connectivity, he said.
Earlier, chief minister N Biren, union minister of state for education RK Ranjan, Rajya Sabha MP and titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba, BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda and general secretary Premananda Meetei attended the intellectual meet.