PWD has not recommended NH status for Tiger Road: CE
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2025: The Chief Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) has categorically stated that they have not recommended or proposed upgrading the so-called German Road/Tiger Road to the status of a National Highway.

PWD Chief Engineer N Subhash said that generally a road or a highway is upgraded to the status of a National Highway only after the State Government makes a recommendation to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to this effect.

Responding to a volume of complaints from the public that most of the roads of Imphal city and surrounding areas have broken down, filled with potholes and the Government has failed miserably to maintain these roads, a high level team of officials led by Principal Secretary (Works) AK Sinha today made a direct assessment of some major roads of Imphal.

PWD has not recommended NH status for Tiger Road: CE

The team also included PWD Chief Engineer, Additional Chief Engineer and representatives of different work agencies/companies.

Speaking to media persons in the office chamber of the PWD Chief Engineer after the inspection tour, Principal Secretary (Works) AK Sinha said that filling potholes on most roads is nearing completion and these roads would be blacktopped once the current spell of rainfall ceases.

AK Sinha said that there are no more potholes on Imphal Airport road, Imphal-Koirengei road and Imphal-Lilong road.

He said that the roads of Imphal city and surrounding areas would be constructed with rigid pavements at the cost of Rs 3600 crore.

Roads having a total length of 540 Kms would be constructed under this project.

The same project will also feature construction of roadside drains.

Once this project of stipulated period three years is completed, all the roads and drains of Imphal will be of standard quality, AK Sinha said.

Contractors have already started working on the project.

Coinciding with the Durand Cup which would be hosted at Imphal, Checkon area, Govindajee Temple area, Khuman Lampak Main Stadium road and Dingku Road have been black-topped.

Repairing of roads inside Khuman Lampak Main Stadium has also been completed, he said.

The Government has been working to make all roads of Imphal smooth and even, free of potholes.

Contractors constructing roads with rigid pavement within Imphal have been directed to engage more manpower, the Principal Secretary (Works) said.

However, there are many roads/areas where road construction works cannot be initiated due to the ongoing sewerage project works being executed under PHED.

Many portions of roads dug out by PHED for the sewerage project but not properly filled and levelled are being filled and levelled by PWD, he said.

Although WBM works was initiated on Checkon road, the same work has been halted as the road is being dug out at several points by PHED for the sewerage project.

RIMS Road is also facing a similar situation, AK Sinha said.

On the other hand, transportation of bitumen remains suspended at present on account of the existing condition of Imphal-Dimapur highway which is unfit for heavy trucks.

Nonetheless, it is expected that the highway would be fit for movement of heavy trucks soon.

As such, bitumen would be arriving at Imphal, he said.

PWD Chief Engineer N Subhash said that generally a road or a highway is upgraded to the status of a National Highway only after the State Government makes a recommendation to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to this effect.

The State Government sent a recommendation to MoRTH in 2018 for upgrading seven roads to the status of National Highway but the Ministry approved only one road.

Since then, the State Government has not been making any recommendation for upgrading roads to National Highways, Subhash said.

Somebody, driven by political considerations, might have sent a proposal to the Ministry for upgrading the so-called German or Tiger Road to the status of a National Highway.

If any such proposal was sent it has nothing to do with the PWD.

Moreover, proposals or recommendations for upgrading roads to National Highways cannot be sent directly by the PWD.

It should be done through the administrative department concerned, the PWD Chief Engineer said.

The PWD did not ask the administrative department to send any proposal/recom-mendation for upgrading the so-called German/Tiger road to a National Highway, he said.

Even if any MLA or civil society organisation sent a proposal for upgrading the particular road to the status of a National Highway, the same proposal would be referred back to the regional office located at Guwahati and the regional office would seek a report on the proposal from the State PWD, he said.

N Subhash said that the PWD is in charge of the National Highway sections from Koirengei to Imphal airport, Kangla western gate to Oriental College, Raj Bhavan gate to Lilong Bridge, Raj Bhavan gate to Yaingangpokpi and Wahengbam Leikai to Kakching Lamkhai via Mayang Imphal.

Noting that the NH-137A covering Wahengbam Leikai to Kakching Lamkhai is in a deplorable condition, the PWD Chief Engineer said that the MoRTH is expected to make a fresh sanction to construct the road within a couple of months.

In the meantime, the PWD is facing severe fund constraints to fill the potholes.

After the potholes have been filled from Wahengbam Leikai to Keishampat, the department has been awaiting favourable weather conditions (cessation of rainfall) to fill potholes till Wangoi Bridge, he said.

Most of the roads of Imphal other than National Highways are covered by rigid pavement scheme under EAP (Externally Aided Projects).

The scheme is already in the stage of execution and around 40 Kms have been black-topped during the past two months, the PWD Chief Engineer claimed.

He said that the total length of the roads under PWD is around 10,000 Kms.

Construction and maintenance of these roads require around Rs 600 crore annually but only Rs 140 crore is available with the PWD.

Of the Rs 140 crore available to the department, Rs 60 crore is allocated to hill districts while Rs 80 crore is meant for the valley districts.

In addition to the budgetary issue, the department has been facing a big problem with regard to supply of materials.

At present, the department is facing acute shortage of bitumen, he said.

He also appealed to all the people to refrain from burning things in the middle of roads and blocking/clogging drains which leads to waterlogging of road surfaces.

Saying that there are potholes on many inter-village roads, Subhash assured that these potholes would also be filled on priority.