JICA backs out of highway projects
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2016: Citing security reasons, the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) has made it clear that they would not be able to make any investment for development of the two highways connecting Manipur with other parts of the country.

Earlier, there were plans to develop Imphal-Kohima and Imphal-Jiribam highways as four-lane highways.

According to a PWD source, JICA has informed the Government that they are not in a position to invest any money for development of the two highways in view of the State's prevailing law and order situation.

Notably, the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) of the Ministry of Road and Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was planning to develop Imphal-Kohima and Imphal-Jiribam highways as four-lane highways with funds from JICA.

Labourers working on the Imphal-Jiribam highway-File photo

Nonetheless, JICA is still interested in investing necessary fund for development of Imphal-Moreh road as this highway has become a part of Asian Highway-I .

For development of the two highways to the level of four-lane highways, JICA was supposed to give a loan of Rs 4000 crore and the loan should be repaid 100 per cent by the Government of India.

JICA officials had inspected the two National Highways.

They also hired a security consultant firm which functions under the Government of India and assessed security situation as they were informed about frequent disturbances on National projects, abduction of officials and labourers and even destruction of machinery by armed groups which are under different forms of understanding with the Government.

After assessment of the security situation, the consultant firm submitted a report which categorically stated that the atmosphere was not conducive for investment.

Based on the report, JICA sent an official letter to the State Government informing that they would not be able to invest any money for development of the two highways, conveyed the official source.

JICA teams took extreme care when they made field inspection of the two National Highways in view of the disruptive elements operating along the highways.

They were willing to invest necessary fund if there was conducive atmosphere.

Although necessary fund has been sanctioned by MoRTH for development of Imphal-Dimapur highway from Tendongyang to Koubru Leikha, the same work could not be initiated due to frequent disturbances by armed groups, informed the official.