Elevated highway, 7 NHs approved: Govindas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 08 2022: Works minister Govindas Konthoujam, who is currently in New Delhi, held a meeting with Union minister for road transport & highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday, during which the union minister approved construction of a 25 km long elevated highway and seven other national highways in the state.

Speaking to TPC, minister Govindas informed that as part of chief minister N Biren's firm objective to develop road connectivity in the state, he along with Works Department officials met with Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday.

He mentioned that at the meeting detailed discussion was held with the Union minister over the present condition of roadways and issues that are causing delay in implementation of various projects taken up in the state.

Highlighting that the state is staring at a situation in the near future, which due to increasing number of vehicles roads, will become very congested, Govindas explained to the Union minister that to address the possible hindrances to road transport the state government proposed construction of elevated highway from Koirengei to Lilong for which a DPR was submitted to the Union ministry concerned.

Govindas expressed elation that the long awaited consent for the project from the Union Ministry has been approved with Nitin Gadkari assuring to sanction the project during the meeting.

He also informed that the Union minister has also ap proved construction of seven new national highways in the state including, Tamenglong-Halflong road; Bishnupur-Rengpang road; Imphal Yairipok via Thoubal road; Singhat-Behiang road; Moirang Lamkhai to Wabagai Lamkhai road; Kangpokpi-Tamenglong via Tamei road and Imphal-Sagolmang-Saikul road.

He also expressed that he is especially happy that Tamenglong-Halflong road which is a very important inter-state connectivity road has also been included in the development work.

Govindas further pointed out that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 passed by the then Congress government at the centre which provides for giving land compensation during acquisition of land for construction of road has raised many issues.

Mentioning that Manipur provides highest compensation for land acquisition for building of roads in all of the country, the minister conveyed that National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is presently facing delay in construction of Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal-Ukhrul road due to dispute over land compensation.

In-spite of this, he exuded confidence that the present BJP government in the state during its term will be able to maintain at least 80 per cent of roads in the state in good condition.

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