Now 12 NHs dot Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2015 : Manipur has become a State covered by 12 National Highways including three such highways that originate from neighbouring Nagaland and are to be terminated at Jessami, close to the Nagaland border.

The number of National Highways covering the State would reach 13 if the Imphal by-pass road which is constructed at par with National Highway is to be counted.

According to an official source, the number of National Highways covering the State reached 12 after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways decided to include nine more roads in the State as National Highways within the last couple of years.

Earlier, the State was covered by just three National Highways�NH-39 (Mao-Moreh), NH-53 (Imphal-Jiribam) and NH-150 (Tipaimukh-Jessami) .

NH-155, NH- 29 and NH-702(A), which are proposed to be terminated at Jessami from Nagaland, are among the NHs that are declared as National Highways recently by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the source further said.

The newly declared NHs in the State include NH-102-A (Tadubi-Tolloi), NH-102-B (CCpur-Sinzawl), NH-137 (Tamenglong-Khongsang), NH-129-C (Maram-Chumukedima via Peren, Nagaland road), NH137-A (Imphal-Kakching Lamkhai via Mayang Imphal) and NH-102-C (Pallel-Chandel) .

The total length of the 12 National Highways in the State is 1341.595 kms.

Among these, the total length of single lane is 799 kms while the intermediate lane is 18 kms.

The length of the double lane is 498.635 kms while the four-lane's length is 25.96 kms.

With the addition of nine NHs in the State to the existing 3 NHs, the condition of the roads in the State is expected to witness a sea change.

However, it is not possible to expect improvement of all the NHs at once, the source said.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is said to be not in a position to include all the new highways in its annual work programme for their expansion to the width of NH and to ready them in 'tip-top' condition or putting them in the highest point of excellence.

There is no status of 'ongoing works' on the three existing NHs of the State.

There are several pending tenders for taking up new programmes.

In short, keeping the existing three NHs of the State, which serve as the lifeline of the State, in 'tip-top' condition is yet to be achieved.

As such, there could be no over-expectation on the new highways, the source added.

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