Bridge, indoor stadium inaugurated CM Ibobi bats for improved connectivity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 10 2016: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today inaugurated a newly cons-tructed bridge at Pallel and an indoor stadium at Kakching Chumnang Leikai.

Apart from the Chief Minister, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, MLA D Korungthang and MLA Y Surchandra were also seated on the dais at the inaugural function.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that transport and communication infrastructure are crucial for economic development of a State/country.

Waterway is the cheapest mode of transport but Mani-pur has been denied this ad- vantage due to geographical features.

Nonetheless, the State would benefit a lot once the ongoing railway project from Jiribam to Imphal is completed.

Improved connectivity can enhance better interaction among different communities of the State and this in turn would foster unity and harmony.

The Government has been paying extra attention to transport infrastructure, education and health care, Ibobi stated.

Bridge, indoor stadium inaugurated by CM :: pix - DIPR

He announced that a multi-storey building for Pallel PHC would be constructed soon.

It would be examined shortly whether to set up a Government High School or a Higher Secondary School at Pallel.

Pointing out that the Pallel-Moreh highway and Pallel- Chandel road are connected at right angle which increases vulnerability to road accidents, the Chief Minister appealed to all encroachers to vacate plots being occupied by them voluntarily.

Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar stated that the newly inaugurated bridge would provide better connectivity to South East Asia through the Asian highway.

The ambitious Chinese project "One belt, one road" also incorporates the Asian Highway, he said.

The bridge built over Sengmai river at the junction of Thoubal district and Chandel district is 42 metres long and 12 metres wide.

An amount of Rs 3.18 crore was sanctioned for construction of the bridge in March 1997 .

Work order for construction of the bridge was first issued on December 15, 1999.After a gap of 10 years, the estimated cost of the bridge was revised to Rs 7.40 crore on March 23, 2009 .

After the contractor to whom the bridge construction work was first issued was de-notified, the same work was issued to another contractor.

Taking due note of the rising prices of construction materials with the passage of time, the estimated cost of the bridge was revised for the second time and the cost was pegged at Rs 8.87 crore.

A proposal was also sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for revision of the estimated cost for the third time.

Speaking at the inaugural function of an indoor stadium at Kakching Chumnang Leikai, Ibobi stated that the Government was working to built one indoor stadium each in every district headquarters with the objective of grooming a healthy society.

He went on to assert that efforts are on to develop sports infrastructure at sub-divisional headquarters too.

The State Cabinet may adopt a decision on re-organising Kakching Municipal Council but the Council should first submit a proposal on the modality of re-organising it after consultation with the concerned DC, SDO and the MLA.

If private lands are affected by road expansion projects, the Government would provide maximum compensation to the affected people.

But filing complaints at Court without voicing their desires and grievances to the Government has only delayed road expansion projects, Ibobi rued.

Dr Ratankumar, MLAs D Korungthang, Y Surchandra and Fazur Rahim were also present at the inaugural function of the indoor stadium.