Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 28:
To literally smoothen the path for boosting trade and commercial ties between India and countries in the south east Asian region under the vision of India's Look East Policy the Central Government is keen to repair the Tamu-Kalemyo road in Myanmar which the Border Road Organisation (BRO) had constructed some years back.
Taking into account logistic importance of the Tamu-Kalemyo route in augmenting the ambitious Look East Policy as well as pave the way for the Trans Asian Highways, the 25 Bn BRTF headquartered here would expedite works relating to resurfacing the 160 kilometre roadway.
The Tamu-Kalemyo road in Myanmar connects with the endpoint of National Highway 39 at Moreh town on the Indian side.
According to Commandant of the BRTF battalion MA Raja the Ministry of External Affairs had already sanctioned Rs 51 crores for repairing and resurfacing the route with BRO authorities entrusted to do the needful.
To carry out the task a BRO unit with a strength of 40 personnel including Engineers is informed to be stationed at Tamu town the nearest Myanmar commercial centre to Manipur's Moreh.
Despite the presence of BRTF men and other road construction material already in place in Tamu, machineries like heavy duty crusher, hot mix plant and pavers would reach Imphal in a few days' time, the BRO official said.
Stating that once the remaining equipments arrive the task force would start the work, MA Raja said and added that completion of the said work might consume a couple of years.
Moreover, about 600 labourers from Myanmar would be engaged in the work, he added.
Under funding from the Union Ministry of External Affairs, the Border Roads Organisation had begun construction of the same stretch from 1998 and was finally completed and inaugurated in the year 2001.