ISBT's fate hangs in balance
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 19 2015 :
The Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) which was constructed with lion's share of the fund provided by NEC and inaugurated over three years back is yet to be commissioned.
At the moment, no one is sure when the multi-crore project would be commissioned.
The ISBT was inaugurated together with the Assembly Secretariat, High Court complex and City Convention Centre by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Ministry of DoNER provided fund for construction of the inter-State bus terminus through NEC in the hope that it would benefit not only Manipur but also all the neighbouring States.
But the ISBT is still unable to serve its intended purpose.
A well placed source informed that Ministry of DoNER has completely released all the fund sanctioned for ISBT.
What is pending is a small percentage of the State's share.
After the ISBT was inaugurated before it was fully ready to be commissioned, oil tanker drivers and their helpers occupied the complex for a prolonged period.
In the process, the condition of ISBT got worn out quite badly.
Renovation of the worn out sections would require Rs four crore.
Interior roads, drains, and sanitary latrines need repairing/re-construction apart from fresh installation of electrical items.
The ISBT can be commissioned only after these minor works are done.
But the required amount of Rs four crore was not incorporated in last year's plan outlay.
Again, it is not clear if the requisite amount can be paid from the annual plan amount of the current financial year.
Nevertheless, it is being considered whether the Government should keep the ISBT under its direct control or outsource its maintenance work to some agency.
But no concrete decision has been adopted till date, informed the source.