State's 3rd National Highway almost ready
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21 2015: Vijay Chibber, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India visited Willong which is under Mao-Maram sub-division to inspect the construction of the 118.84 Kms long Maram-Peren road.

Maram-Peren road was declared a National Highway in March 2014 by the Central Government.

The visiting Secretary was warmly greeted by the villagers along with RD/PR, Economic and Statistics Minister Francis Ngajokpa.

The Secretary was accompanied by Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district and other high ranking officials of GREF and BRO.

Speaking on the construction works taken up by BRO and GREF, Chibber said that the success of the Maram-Peren road could not have been possible if not for the hard work and dedication of GREF and BRO.

Officials studying a chart of the road

He further said that the Minister of the area and the State Government are dedicated to constructing such key roads for the people.

Even the bureaucrats play a great role in bringing such a dream project of the State alive, he said.

He added that the Maram-Peren road has been declared a National Highway and to streamline the road and make it a double-lane standard National Highway, a detailed project report would be prepared as soon as possible.

With this road, Manipur now has three National Highways and this would bring development to the State as well as the areas where the road passes through.

With development, there could be adverse effects on the pristine natural scenario of the place.

So he urged the people to unite and work towards protection of natural resources in and around the highway.

Francis Ngajokpa said, "Maram-Peren road has been the dream of many people.

Now as it has come true people should strive for other development works" .

It may be mentioned that the said road has been constructed by GREF from the year 1991 and was completed in the year 2002 at the cost of Rs 83 crore.

In the year 2006, the 118.84 Kms long Maram-Peren road was converted into a double-lane National Highway at an estimated cost of Rs 185 crore.

Francis further said that the newly declared National Highway of Manipur is one of the greatest achievements of the State.

"Though the Maram-Peren road is slightly longer as compared to the one which passes through Kohima, the new road would be much safer from the scourge of insurgents and landslides.

The road could prove to be life saver for Manipur in a few years," he added.

Notably, the visiting Secretary of Road Transport and Highways, Vijay Chibber worked in Nungba sub-division as an SDO in the year 1979 and he visited Nungba the previous day.