Imphal, July 13: With the Centre agreeing to extend the Jiri-Tupul rail line to Imphal, the estimated cost of the project has been hiked from the previous Rs 748 crores to Rs 2385 crores.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that the decision to extend the rail line up to Imphal was taken during a meeting held at New Delhi on July 11.The deadline set to complete the laying of tracks from Jiri to Tupul has been fixed for March 2012 while the sector from Tupul to Imphal will be completed by March 2014.Apart from Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh who represented the State at the meeting, the other officials present at the meeting included, the Secretary of the Union Home Affairs, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Secretary of the Union Finance Ministry and Chairman of the National Railway Board.

The meeting came against the backdrop of the message intimated by the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister over the slow progress of the rail line.

To give more impetus to the work of the rail line, the meeting agreed to sanction a sum of Rs 123 crores for laying the track covering a distance of 9.9 kms from Jiribam, said the source and added that the total distance from Jiribam to Tupul has been worked out at 97 kms.

Now with the Centre agreeing to extend the rail line upto Imphal, the distance has been worked out at 126 kms.

With the rail line being declared a National Project, funds will not be a deterrent said the source and explained that the expenditure will be met by the Union Finance Ministry and Union Railway Ministry.

The work of laying the track will be taken up phase wise, said the source and added that along the Jiri-Tupul sector, tunnels will account for a total distance of 24 kms while 33 major bridges will have to be constructed along this line.

The Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East has already issued an order to acquire 9.9 kms of land for the rail line to be laid.

The Rail India Technology and Economic Services have been entrusted with the task of carrying out the general survey, geological survey and project preparation.

The source further said that the details of the meeting have already been forwarded to the Chief Minister and the Ministers and officials concerned of PWD and Revenue Department as well.

The DGP has also been apprised of the outcome of the meeting held at New Delhi.

Meanwhile the PWD has been entrusted with the task of preparing a Detailed Project Report for the proposed four laning of NH-39 from Mao till Mantripukhri.

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