State backs PWD for SARDP works
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2011:
Along with reviewing the progress of the road construction works being taken up under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) in North Eastern States including Manipur, the State Government has urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to hand over the road construction work under SARDP to the State Public Works Department.
According to a reliable source, a review meeting of the road construction works being taken up under SARDP in North Eastern States was held at the office of Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at New Delhi today.
The Principal Secretary of Works, Chief Engineer of PWD and SE National Highways represented the State Government at the meeting which was also attended by two Chief Engineers of the Ministry.
During the meeting, the State representatives urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to hand over the task of road construction under SARDP to the PWD.
Accordingly, it has been agreed in principle to discuss the proposal of the State Government with regard to handing over the remaining works as well as other sanctioned works under SARDP in future to the PWD after the works already started by BRO are completed, the source disclosed.
It is said that the under its Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Government of India has been keeping aside certain fund for construction/ development of roads in the North Eastern States under SARDP.
With exception to Manipur and Tripura, where the task of constructing/developing roads under SARDP is being taken up by BRO, the Public Works Departments concerned have been entrusted the task in rest of the other North Eastern States.
In case of Manipur, the Ministry has so far sanctioned around Rs 108 crores to the BRO for construction of the National Highways 53 and 39.In addition to this, the Ministry has given its approval to upgradation of some important roads in Manipur from B-grade to A-grade under SARDP.
Tamenglong-Khongshang Road and Pallel-Chandel Road are among the roads who have been given approval by the Ministry for upgradation from B-grade to A-grade.