Imphal, July 14 2010: State Works Minister, K Ranjit today offered apology to the people of the state through the members of the state Assembly when state PWD is in the position of not enabling to keep it assurance with regard to the completion of improvement works of the Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53 .

Giving reply to token of cut motions moved by the opposition members in the House today, Ranjit clarified that the assurance given to complete the improvement works of the NH-53 was given without actual position of the maintenance works taken up by BRTF.

He made the assurance without assessing the sub-standard quality to the working of the BRFF but the present condition of the highway is woefully bad so that it will not be possible to complete the improvement works by PWD on or before July 15 which he had assured earlier.

He though that if the bad dilapidated areas is only at few portion of the stretch of the road but when PWD swung into action for improvement works, it was found that except the people inhabitant areas, others were in awful condition.

Keeping behind black topping, even singling laying works were found not taken place at other areas where people are not settle.

The road improvement works is presently taken up by seven contractors using 11 bulldozers, 25 JCP, 56 trucks and 235 labourers.

The repairing works of smaller bridges are also in progress.

What kind of bridge could be constructed has been inspected for the construction for a bridge on the river Barak recently with representatives of a construction company.

They have suggested that a 55 tone capacity bridge could be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 65 lakh, he informed the House adding that the road can be developed as a all season accessible highway by 2011 .

No room for bribery or corruption in taking up improvement works of the highway will be given.

The department has planned to employee villages residing on the sides of the highway in the maintaining the road.

All works will be taken up in the common interest of the people, he assured.

The department is giving equal emphasis in improvement all the three national highways passing through the state.

Government is trying to take over the Mao-Maram section of the NH-39 from the BRO.

Funds for improvement works for the stretch of the Mao-Imphal road has been sanctioned.

The black topping works will be taken up at the near future.

In the same manner, the government is efforting to make the NH-150 fit for being a national highway.

All these works need people's corporation, he added.

Earlier when the motion for passing the demand for grant of the department was moved in the house, oppositions in the House of the state Assembly put up token of cut to the demand with various questions and observation on the need of giving equal emphasis to all the national highways considering the prevailing condition.

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