Sit-in protest against neglect of NH 37
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 16 2011: A sit-in protest staged at Sagolband Moirang Hanuba community hall today lamented that both the central and the state governments are not taking active interest in improving the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH 37 .

President of the United Club NH 37 Thongam Shyama Khabanganba, speaking at the protest site, asserted that it has been a long pending demand of the people of the state to improve the condition of NH 53 which has now become NH 37 as per a notification of the Union Ministry of Road Transport issued on March 5, 2010 .

Reminding that Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had reportedly assured completion of upgradation of NH 53 (now NH 37) into a double-lane highway and blacktopping it by 2013 in a meeting with state Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh in New Delhi recently, the president said the highway had become a vexing problem for the people of Manipur.

When the Border Road Organisation (BRO), handling the maintenance work for the last around 40 years, had made little improvement, how will it be possible to complete double-laning and blacktopping the road within a short period of time.

Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai, in his visit to the state last year, had announced the release of ' 300 crores for developing the Imphal-Jiribam section to an all season road.

Till date no progress has been seen, Shyama pointed out.

He added the road can be one of the best highways in the world by spending ' 1 crore on each kilometre of the 222 km road.

The president further observed that if a realignment is done, the 222 km highway can be shortened to around 140 km.

He also announced that a team comprising representatives of various civil organisations will be visiting New Delhi to press the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to give special attention to NH 37 which is the lifeline of the state.

The team will also meet with MPs of other political parties like the CPI, CPI(M), BJP, Trinamool Congress, etc.

and press them to bring up the matter to the floor of the Parliament.

However, he did not confirm the date on which the team would be visiting the national capital.

Representatives of various civil organisations like the Manipur Nupi Marup, Khwairamband Keithel Apunba Nupi Marup and members of local clubs in Sagolband area took part in the sit-in protest.

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