MP Leishemba Sanajaoba calls for expediting railway work
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 03 2025: Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba on Monday urged the government to expedite the completion of the long-delayed Jiribam-Imphal railway line project.

Speaking in the Parliament, he highlighted the hardships faced by the people of the state due to the ongoing violence and poor connectivity along the national highways.

"Though the Jiribam-Imphal railway line project started around a decade back, it has not been completed yet.

Only the Jiribam to Khongsang section has been completed, but the remaining portion from Khongsang to Imphal is still incomplete due to many reasons," he informed the House.

The MP underscored the need for better transportation infrastructure, given the state's geographical isolation.

"Manipur, being a landlocked state, depends on national highways and airways for connectivity," he explained.

However, bringing in essential commodities and traveling outside the state along the national highways has become increasingly difficult.

"People are facing hardships due to bad roads, landslides, and extortion by different armed groups," he stated.

The MP pointed out that adding to the public's woes, frequent bandhs and economic blockades by different groups as a means of exerting pressure on the government" have become a norm, contending that these disruptions severely impact the supply of essential goods and increase the financial burden on residents.

"The reason why I urge to the government is that during this ongoing crisis, many people could not travel outside the state through the national highways.

They are facing financial problems in traveling by flight due to high prices of airfare.

Moreover, the price of food grains and other essential commodities are sky rocketing," he highlighted.

Given this dire situation, the MP asserted that completing the railway line would provide a viable solution.

"Railway has become the only alternative means to resolve all these problems," he emphasised.

At the same time, Sanajaoba observed that despite efforts by the state and central governments, the violence and unrest along the highways persist.

"Unprovoked firing, attacks, killings, and abduction of innocent people, as well as extortion along the national highways, are being carried out.

Many soldiers have been martyred, and many are injured in the hands of these illegal immigrants," he lamented.

Calling for a decisive response from the government, the MP urged for immediate and stringent actions.

"They (illegal immigrants) are really waging wars against the nation with the help of foreign hands or countries.

So instead of adopting appeasement policy, the Government of India, with an iron hand, should act upon these foreign narco-terrorists or separatists to restore normalcy in the state as well as along the national highways".

In a firm appeal, he urged the government to ensure that the railway project is completed by February 2025 or at the earliest possible date, emphasising the urgency of the matter.

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