Expansion of NH-2 caught in doldrums
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 06 2018: Even though the Central Government has repeatedly instructed the State Government to commence expansion/repairing works of the Imphal Moreh road (NH-2), which is also a part of Asian Highway number 1 under the funding of Asian Development Bank (ADB), the failure of the State Government to procure the necessary land has resulted in a complete halt of the project.

According to an official source, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, India, gave the approval for expanding/repairing the 119 kilometres long Imphal to Moreh road at a cost of Rs 1630 crore on July 12 last year.

The said project is to be undertaken under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Program, with National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) as the implementing agency.

Imphal-Moreh road is not only a part of the Asian Highway number 1 but is also the gateway of India to the South East Asian countries.

It is also generally agreed that the said road has the potential to improve the trade and tourism sector as well help in providing employment to many people.

For the project which aims to bring state of the art development to the road from Lilong to Moreh, the State Government is supposed to expand the roads by 30 metres each on both sides of the road at residential areas and by around 45 metres on both sides of the road at deserted areas or hill areas.

Pointing out that the State Revenue Department had already issued a notification in this regard, the source informed that the Central Government has repeatedly informed the State Government to acquire the necessary land for the project (as the funds for the project have already been sanctioned) either through direct purchase or through proper means as per the Land Acquisition Act.

Most recently, on December 11 last year, the Central Government yet again, instructed the State Government to make necessary arrangements to acquire the required land by March 31 this year.

The source informed that following the instruction of the Central Government, a high level meeting chaired by the then Chief Secretary RR Rashmi, was held on March 17 to review the status of land acquisition along the Imphal-Moreh road and during the meeting, the directive of the Central Government was discussed and it was resolved to finish the land acquisition works by March 31.But there has been no progress on the matter till date, the source added.

NHIDCL had issued tenders for the project on October 10 last year but as the necessary land acquisition works have not been completed yet, the tender bid has not been awarded to any specific contractor till date.

Explaining that the project is to be executed in three different phases, the source informed that the first phase will cover Lilong to Yaithibi Loukon (Wangjing) while the second phase will cover Yaithibi Loukon to Khongkhang (Pallel) and the third phase will cover Pallel to Moreh.

The source mentioned that the respective DCs of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts have finished the necessary rate negotiations with the land owners of the districts for the project although the negotiated rates need to be approved by the Cabinet.

However, the State Government had directed Thoubal DC to renegotiate the rate with the land owners of the district (as the initial negotiated rate was too high) and the Government had also directed the DC to submit the report by March 28.The source explained that almost 90 percent of the land under phase two of the project have been acquired while in case of the third phase, only the approval of the Cabinet is pending.

However, land acquisition works for the first phase, Lilong to Wangjing, are yet to even start.

Even though almost 99 percent of the land owners have given permission to the State Government, they are becoming restless due to the failure of the State Government to take up any tangible steps till date, the source added.

As the Government already issued necessary notification for acquiring the land, the landowners are facing huge inconveniences as they cannot repair/make changes to their residences or shops etc.

The source mentioned that the State Government might incur heavy losses in the future if the land owners get tired of waiting and build their structures, only to have them dismantled later when the State Government begins taking up necessary steps thus forcing the State Government to pay extra to the land owners.

On the other hand, many are complaining that the State Government's failure to take up necessary steps for the project even when it has the required funds and land, is due to its inefficiency, the source added.

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