Imphal, November 19: Jiribam is ready to receive the Prime Minister where he is scheduled to touch down on a helicopter from Silchar tomorrow at about 10.10 am to lay the foundation of the Jiri-Toupul rail link.

Apart from the Prime Minister, the other dignitaries who are scheduled to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony include Governor SS Sidhu, Union Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, Minister of State for Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Dev, MoS for Railways J Rathwa, MoS for Railways R Velu and MoS for Defence BK Handique.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and Works Minister Th Devendra will also attend.

The three MPs from Manipur, Rishang Keishing (Rajya Sabha), Mani Charenamei and Dr T Meinya will be the special guests.

The estimated cost of the rail link between Jiribam and Toupul has been worked out at Rs 727.56 crores.

The length of the rail line is 97.90 kms and will run over 322 bridges.

Thirteen tunnels will lie along the rail route and there will be 7 stations altogether.

The number of road crossings has been put at 21.Chief Minister O Ibobi arrived at Jiribam today ahead of the momentous occasion and oversaw the preparation works being taken up.

The Chief Minister also inspected Jiri college as well as the Higher Secondary School.

The Govt has set its eyes on completing the process of laying the rail track on August 5, 2010 and to inaugurate it by August 15 the same year, informed the CM while talking to newsmen.

Works Minister Th Devendra who arrived at Jiribam yesterday convened a co-ordination meeting of all those engaged in the preparation to receive the Prime Minister.

He also inspected the security arrangements taken up here.

Railways Minister Laloo Prasad will accompany the PM upto Imphal but will leave for New Delhi the same day (tomorrow).

DONER Minister PR Kyndiah who was previously scheduled to attend the rail head foundation stone laying ceremony at Jiribam will instead fly in straight from Delhi to Imphal tomorrow at 9.45 am.

He will be accompanied by 25 media persons.

The turn out at the function is expected to be handsome tomorrow.

Our Staff Reporter adds from Imphal: Just one day before the formal handing over of Kangla to the State Government is announced, Assam Rifles personnel, who were stationed there have practically bade adieu to the historic fort with 99.9 percent of the personnel and families moving out.

A well placed source informed The Sangai Express that the change of guard and change of board will formally take place once the place is handed over to the State Government by DG AR before the Prime Minister tomorrow at 3 pm as scheduled.

DG of Assam Rifles Lt General Bhupinder Singh and Commander of Eastern Command Lt General JS Verma will be present at the handing over ceremony of the historic fort, said the source and added that once the formal handing over exercise is over, the IRB will take over the change of guard from the Assam Rifles.

Another well placed source informed The Sangai Express that at the moment there are only 7 Assam Rifles left at Kangla to guard their assets.

Army personnel are currently posted there ahead of the Prime Minister's visit, added the source.

Meanwhile security has been beefed up all over Imphal for the high profile visit.

Police commandos and civil police from other districts such as Bishnupur and Thoubal have been requisitioned to provide security during the visit of the Prime Minister.

The State DG and the DIG of the Special Protection Group will co-ordinate the over security arrangements in Imphal.

Central para-military forces are also out on the street to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the Prime Minister's stay here.

The beautification drive that was launched with fervour is practically finalised with some finishing touches remaining.

The routes which the Prime Minister is scheduled to proceed through have all been spruced up and everything is set for the foundation stone laying ceremony at the Capitol Project at Chingmeirong.

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