Slushy, dusty stretch from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner to continue for another year
Likely to be completed by 2024 : Gadkari
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 05 2023: The upgradation and widening work of National Highway-202 from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner, Imphal-Ukhrul road may take another year to complete, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

He said this while responding to an unstarred question raised by MP Leishemba Sanajaoba in the Rajya Sabha today.

The progress of the work on the 31 kilometers long section of the highway has been hampered by delay in land acquisition and forest clearance, said the Union Minister.

Nitin Gadkari said the work is targeted for completion by May 2024 .

While the Union Minister stated that the work may take another year to complete, it may be noted here that in late January this year, the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had stated that the upgradation and widening work may be completed before the Shirui Lily Festival 2023, which is likely to be held in May next month.

Slushy, dusty stretch from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner to continue for another year

In Rajya Sabha today, seeking answers from the Union Minister, MP Leishemba Sanajaoba stated that the work on NH-202 is not progressing satisfactorily even after completion of three years.

Replying to the question raised, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the work is being executed in 2 packages of 17 km and 14 km.

Out of the total length of 17 km, in package 1, land in 16 km has been handed over by the State Government and compensation estimate for 860 metres is under finalization by the Deputy Commissioners of Ukhrul and Kangpokpi district.

And, in respect of package 2, land in the entire 14 km has been handed over and forest clearance for both packages have been accorded by the Forest Department on March 1, 2023 .

The Union Minister said 52.03 percent of work in package 1 (17 km) has been completed while work progress in package 2 (14 km) is 43.52 percent at present.

"The work is targeted for completion by May 2024," he added.

Meanwhile, it may be noted here that on January 25 last, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing with Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul and top police officials of the district had visited the work site on NH-202 and interacted with land owners.

During the visit, the MLAs had come down hard on some landowners and locals for hindering the work and even instructed the police to arrest and register FIRs against those causing problems.

The MLAs met with headmen, chiefs and land owners of Shangkai, Mongkot Chepu, Litan Sirakhong, TM Kasom, Shokvao and Ramva village.

As some land owners raised grievances concerning compensation, the MLAs had then advised them to submit their complaints to the Deputy Commissioner to resolve them.

Notably, there has also been an arbitrator appointed for settlement of the issues.

Significantly, the NHIDCL officials then had informed the MLAs that the issue of land dispute was a problem that was delaying the work and maintained that it was "committed to completing the work by the end of April 2023 provided all land issues are resolved" .