Highway facelift fund for strife-hit state
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 23, 2024 -
THOUGH there is no guarantee when the under-construction road development projects in the state would be completed, it is heartening to learn that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has assured to grant Rs 1000 crore for sprucing up the national highways in Manipur sector.
Considering the fact that there had been consistent assurances by the Union government that fund allocation will not be an issue if there is clarity in the developmental objectives and commitment to achieve the same by the states and union territories, the proposal tabled by the government of Manipur for development of the national highways as well as its implementation part would be under constant monitoring by the ministry as it is obvious that the union government is fully aware about omission and commission associated with any major projects in the state and inordinate delays in completing the task.
However, chief minister N Biren and his team of officials merit commendation for impressing upon and extracting assurance from Nitin Gadkari to provide of Rs 1000 crore from the Central Road Fund (CRF) for development of national highways in Manipur sector, especially taking into account that the Kuki-Meetei conflict had been having crippling effect on effective execution of welfare schemes and development projects.
As reported, the assurance to fund the highway development work was given during Monday's review meeting on national highway projects being implemented in the Northeast region by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) held in New Delhi, which CM Biren, works minister Govindas Konthoujam and officials of departments concerned also attended.
Interestingly, Union minister Nitin Gadkari took serious note of the disturbances and inordinate delays in implementing highway projects in the past one and half years due to the unrest situation in the state, and instructed relevant officials to settle disputes related to land acquisition and obtain/complete forest clearance procedures at the earliest.
Besides extortion demands by unlawful organisations and insistence on donation of hefty amount by local organisations, controversies often crop up over payment of compensation to the affected communities whenever major projects are planned in the state, consequently leading to work agencies' failure to meet the project completion deadline.
Considering the obstacles faced in executing road projects, the state's delegation managing to secure assurance for Rs 1000 crore assistance from the CRF for development of highways is nothing less than a huge success.
The Union minister, however, cautioned that sanction of funds could be put on hold in case of failure to submit utilisation certificate in time.
With Nitin Gadkari also hinting at entrusting development works of the Imphal-Moirang road to NHIDCL, if necessary, which underscore that the centre is willing to fund any feasible projects but under the condition that the state government must ensure transparency and complete projects within the stipulated period, the onus is on the state government to categorically tell work agencies to focus on their assigned task as widening and smoothening the national highways would naturally increase traffic volume and compel those perceiving the goods carriers as their funding source to challenge the establishment to seriously ponder over before attempting to stop the vehicles in full speed.
Moreover, security forces deployed to secure the highways should be instructed not to tolerate any elements trying to sabotage the road projects.
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