Imphal Sewerage Project throws a spanner at work progress
Road works unlikely to meet targets
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2011: Most of the major road development works being executed in and around Imphal city are unlikely to be completed within the targeted periods, owing to a number of factors.

The Sewerage Project is one factor for hampering the road development works.

The Works Department has been undertaking development works of RIMS Road, a stretch of the Uripok-Kangchup Road near BT Flyover Bridge, Wahengbam Leikai Road as well as Wahengbam Leikai to Tera Keithel Road.

On the other hand, though the road from Thangmeiband Lilasing Khongnangkhong to Lamphel is shorter than one kilometre, the same road could not be repaired for the last five years because of the Sewerage Project which has been in the process for the past many, many years.

A PWD official informed The Sangai Express that the inordinate delay in completing the road development works was caused by the Sewerage Project and this was further compounded by the SHDDC's prolonged blockade which has only been worsened by the UNC's ongoing blockade.

RIMS road reduced to a dirt track and which the CM had assured would be repaired by Nov

Because of these blockades, raw and construction materials could not procured in time, he said.

The economic blockade came into force from August 1 this year, but some of the road works have been going on for years.

Though most of the major road of Imphal city have been completed to the stage of WBM, the department has no bitumen for black-topping.

Because of the ongoing economic blockade, a large consignment of around 1000 tonnes of bitumen remains stranded at Khatkhati.

When the SHDDC lifted its blockade, it was ordered to ship in the consignment along Imphal-Dimapur road.

Accordingly, the consignment started moving towards Dimapur.

But it was again instructed to move towards Silchar to deliver the consignment at Imphal via Jiribam as the UNC refused to lift its economic blockade.

The annual requirement of bitumen for the State is 3000 to 5000 tonnes.

Although Chief Minister O Ibobi announced recently on RIMS foundation day that development work of RIMS Road would be completed within the month of November, it remains a big question whether the department can translate the Chief Minister's announcement into action.

The little bitumen available with PWD is being used in minor road repairing roads being done ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

The dug out parts in front of Raj Bhavan for Sewerage Project would be filled ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

This is not the first time when roads dug out for Sewerage Project were filled by PWD before arrival of VVIPs only to be dug out again for the same project.

Such haphazard manner of executing works reflected lack of coordination among engineering departments.

Absence of coordination was visible in depressed as well as elevated spots made in the middle of roads due to digging main holes for the Sewerage Project.

Thangmeiband Watham Leirak is another road which could not be repaired for the last many years because of the Sewerage Project.

Public complaints about bad roads in the State but no road tax is paid to PWD even though it is PWD which has been making and maintaining roads.

This is in total contradiction to Delhi-Gurgaon highway which earns around Rs one crore everyday as road tax, remarked the official.

Most of the major road development works of Imphal city are targeted for completion within the current but no bitumen is available in the department.

Moreover, shortage of fuel oils being witnessed in the State has also been hindering the road development works, the official added.