Alternative route from Kohima to Pudunamei via Chakabama, Kedima worked out
Heavy vehicles begin to take new route
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 29 2013: With the Imphal-Dimapur highway not yet ready for loaded heavy vehicles after a section sank near Kohima, loaded trucks bound for Manipur have started moving on an alternative route connecting Kohima with Phek district and then to Chakabama and finally the border village of Kedima before crossing into Pudunamei in Manipur.

In its search for an alternative route which can replace Imphal-Dimapur road until it is fully repaired, the Government of Manipur chose this route.

The road is already black-topped on Nagaland side.

For about 3 Kms starting from Nagaland border towards Manipur, the road is in bad shape and the same is being repaired.

Taking into account the rainy season which may trigger landslide any time and the imminent wear and tear situation which may render the road unfit for heavy vehicles, the Government is working to repair another 3 Kms long road on Merei side which may be used as a bypass.

Work on at the alternative route and the Pudunamei Gate

Although the two road sections under repair are in bad shape, vehicles have started moving on this route as they are only around 3 Kms long.

As of now, heavy vehicles cannot move on the Merei road because of a huge boulder lying in the middle of the road.

The boulder is being bombarded into pieces.

It is expected that the boulder can be fully broken down and removed by July 30 .

Mao AC MLA Dikho and PWD engineers are currently stationed at the site monitoring the road development work.

People living alongside the road and surrounding areas too came out and joined the road repairing work since July 27.There was no rest even on Sunday.

So far, 400 villagers have joined the road development work.

Two dozers, two excavators, two tipper trucks and ten Shaktiman trucks are being engaged in the same work.

Many opined that the alternative route would be more convenient than Imphal-Jiribam highway where trans- porters have to struggle hard to negotiate a 26 Km long section which is in its worst state.

A team of media persons went to the area where the road is being repaired and MLA Dikho told them that laying of stones can be completed within the next two days.

Once the stones are laid, heavy vehicles would have no problem on the road.

Apart from volunteering and helping in repairing the road, village authorities and villagers took out a publicity campaign asking all UG outfits/cadres not to disturb movement or impose tax on vehicles passing through the road, Dikho said.

Meanwhile, information received from IOC's Ching-meirong depot said that the Imphal-Dimapur highway may be restored after Aug 10 .