Chidambaram shows determination to improve second life line of the State
Optimistic BRO sets Feb deadline for a motorable NH-53
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2010: Making his intention to take NH-53 to a higher grade, some-where near the position to be called a National Highway, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today convened a meeting at New Delhi to get things moving.

A confident DG of the BRO, during the meeting, claimed that NH-53 will be motorable by February next year, while other features such as black topping will take some more time.

Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source from Delhi said that the Union Home Minister chaired the meeting which was attended among others by Chief Minister O Ibobi and the DG of the BRO.

A stretch of NH-53, which is the norm rather than the exception does not give much hope-File

Top ranking Government officials including the Union Home Secretary, Petroleum Secretary, CMD of IOC, Secretary of Civil Aviation, CMD of Air India, Secretary of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Chairman of the Railway Board, Additional Secretary of the Defence Ministry, DG of the CRPF were the others who represented the Centre at the meeting.

Other than the Chief Minister, the team from the State Government consisted of the Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Commissioner, CAFPD Commissioner, Chief Engineer of the State PWD and Director of the Finance Cell.

With the BRO giving the assurance that NH-53 would be made motorable by the end of February next year, the State Government will chip in and post an officer from the PWD, holding a post equivalent to that of an AE or EE as the Nodal officer.

The BRO on the other hand has committed itself to appoint an officer not below the rank of an SE to monitor the progress of the work.

The February 2011 deadline set by the BRO is to make the National Highway motorable in all seasons, while other upgradation works, such as black topping, installing highway lights etc will finish by 2013 .

To make up for the poor fuel holding capacity here, which is only for 6/7 days, the IOC has assured that it would look into the necessary points and urged for the speedy completion of the Rail Fed Oil Depot coming up at Malom.

The CRPF has also assured, during the meeting, that until the State Govt can manage the Highways, it would continue to provide security escorts to FCI trucks carrying rice and oil tankers.

The Food Corporation of India has also committed itself to increase the storing capacity of ten metric tonne at one time here in its gowdown to 20,000 metric tonne by next year.

To facilitate smooth transportation of rice, the State Govt will requisition the service of 350 trucks and the State police will extend security cover.

The Jiri-Imphal rail line also came up for discussion at the meeting with the stress laid on the speedy completion of the work and 2014 set as the target to complete the process of laying rail line from Jiribam to Tupul.

In order to work out a way in which heavy machinery can be brought in to Imphal, a meeting will be held on December 29 between the BRO and Railway Board.

At the moment, the heavy machinery cannot be brought to Imphal.

As part of the plan to extend night landing facilities to Tulihal airport, it was decided to upgrade the watch tower for planes to land till 7 pm from the present 4 pm.

To meet the need of the burgeoning passengers, Air India has agreed to increase the number of flights by January 15 next year.