PM's deadline of 2013 in serious danger of getting derailed
NH-37 reverts to deplorable self
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 29, 2012:: National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) which had seen some improvement a few months back has again deteriorated and reverted to its earlier highly deplorable condition.

Notably, it was none other than Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who assured during a public meeting at Imphal last year that development work of the 222 Kms long highway would be completed by 2013. This was followed by similar commitments given by the DG of BRO and Union Defence Minister of State Pallam Raju.

Quite contrary to the Prime Minister's announcement and the commitments given by the responsible Minister and the officer, the highway is only deteriorating day by day as if there is no one to take care of it.

Though Imphal-Noney section of the highway is in good shape, Noney to Kaiphundai section has deteriorated to the extreme.

Apart from a few black-topped sections which are at the best one/two Km(s) long in between, the whole section is covered either with dust or mud according to the weather condition.

A vehicle makes its way through the slush on the highway

The condition of the highway is even more pathetic on Nungba-Barak, Barak-Makru and Makru-Kaiphundai sections.

In most parts of these sections, there is little room for two vehicles to cross each other or overtake another vehicle.

In addition to narrowness of the road along Nungdalan section, the road here is fully covered with loose earth sliding down from the hill-slope.

There is every possibility of huge boulders rolling down the hill - slope which has dangerous potential of causing serious casualty.

In spite of the urgent need to repair the highway section, BRO has neither the manpower nor the machinery.

Whatever machinery present along the section belong to the Railways authority.

The limited number of labourers present there would come in the morning at office hour and work a little before having lunch.

After having lunch, they would simply while away their time by sleeping or lying down.

Given such tardy pace of work and casual attitude of the authorities concerned, it remains a big question whetherthe highway development work can be completed by 2013 as announced by the Prime Minister.

Nevertheless, the highway which remained disconnected since July 27 due to landslide near Makru, has been connected once again after BRO removed the pile of earth which blocked the highway for a length of 30 feet this morning.

Meanwhile around 800 loaded trucks which were stranded at Jiribam due to the landslide have starting moving towards Imphal with security escorts today.

The trucks would halt and put up at Awangkhul tonight before resuming their journey to Imphal tomorrow.

But the prevailing condition of the highway poses a serious question if the loaded trucks can reach Imphal safely.