Gadkari inaugurates Makru Bridge, approves elevated highway project
Centre assures to fund development projects; CM proposes upgrade of state road to NHs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 12 2021: Fulfilling the long-awaited dream of the people of Manipur, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated the Makru Bridge located in Tamenglong district along the Imphal-Jiribam section of National Highway-37 .

The union minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 15 National Highway Projects during a grand function organised at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound.

The Projects cover a total length of 298 kilometres with a sum investment of Rs 4148 crore.

During his one-day visit, Gadkari was accorded warm welcome by chief minister N Biren and his cabinet colleagues at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Gadkari informed that progress of any nation depends on the growth of agriculture, industries and service sectors and opined that a visionary leader with appropriate decision and policies could bring socio-economic transformation.

He expressed firm belief that under the visionary leadership of chief minister Biren, Manipur would transform socio-economically and become one of the prosperous states in the country.

The central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had always given priority for the development of the north-eastern states, he maintained.

Asserting that there is no dearth of funds in the central government, he urged the state government to cooperate with his ministry and expedite the works to the optimum and also asked the authorities to solve any issues in land acquisition and environment clearance of the projects at an early date.

Stating that the country had incurred huge expenses in importing petroleum products, he informed that the central government is working on diversification of agriculture into the energy and power sector and stressed the need to create employment potential in the backward area of the country by making agriculture economically viable to help in eradicating poverty.

Expressing happiness on his ability to contribute to the development of the road infrastructure of the state, he also assured that the National Highway projects which inaugurated Monday would further boost the overall development of the state.

He informed that the ministry had already sanctioned DPR of Rs 5102 crore and projects costing around Rs 10,671 crore would be sanctioned for the year 2021-22.The annual plan for the state had been raised to Rs 5,000 crore from earlier plan of around Rs 300 crore, he informed, while assuring that the ministry has no lack of resources.

He sought support of the people in carrying out development projects.

He further assured to include the expansion of 350 km of National Highways in Phase-II of Bharatmala Projects and announced the establishment of a Model Inspection and Certification Centre in the state with state-of-art equipment to test the fitness of vehicles.

The minister also accorded sanction for elevated highway project with a cost Rs 5,000 crore and asked the state government to complete the DPR and start the tender process.

He also cleared and sanctioned certain projects proposed by the chief minister.

Delivering his presidential speech, chief minister Biren stated that inauguration of Makru Bridge was a milestone achievement for enabling seamless movement of goods and services along the NH-37 bringing relief to both transporters and the general public.

Informing that the construction of Barak Bridge would also be completed before December this year, he maintained that the government had been extending all possible assistance in removing difficulties for timely completion of the bridge.

Expressing gratitude to the union minister for inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 16 National Highway projects, Biren urged Gadkari to consider sanction of proposal of significant projects submitted by the state government.

The proposal included up-gradation of seven state roads of strategic and economic importance covering a total length of 433 km into National Highways, construction of Trans Manipur Highway of approximately 800 km along the state's border by upgrading and reconstruction of existing state roads, four laning of Imphal-Moirang Road considering the cultural and commercial importance of the road with a proposal for full compensation for land acquisition to be borne by NHIDCL, to provide a road network of around 1,040 Km for direct and intra connectivity between hill districts, to fast track the implementation of the elevated highways project to mitigate the inconvenience in the Imphal city, improvement of road from Kangpokpi to Tamei proceeding to Tenning under Inter State Connectivity Scheme or any other scheme of the ministry and extending of Hill Area Development Programme to remaining hill districts of the state with a request to enhance allocation to at least Rs 100 crore per district.

Lauding the union minister for his immense support for development of the state, he assured commitment of the state government and maximum efforts to ensure completion of projects on time and sought to continue unwavering support and guidance from Gadkari's side in future.

Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region and Ministry of Cooperation BL Verma, state's works minister Th Biswajit Singh, Lok Sabha MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze and Rajya Sabha MP Leisemba Sanajaoba were the guests of honour of the function which was also attended by ministers, MLAs, chief secretary, DGP, high ranking civil and police officials of the central and state government and officials of NHIDCL.

After the City Convention Centre function, Nitin Gadkari accompanied by N Biren, BL Verma, ministers, MPs and MLAs visited Makru by helicopter and flagged off the transportation at the Makru Bridge.

Speaking at the flag-off event, Gadkari pointed out that a land cannot be developed without developing its roadways.

While stating that the United States of America leads in development because of its developed roadways, he said that with the development of road and transportation, Manipur too would be able to exploit its tourism potential, thereby becoming more developed.

Tourism sector provides 89 per cent of employment and gives major boost to capital investment, he maintained, while adding that employment could not be generated without industry.

Moreover, poverty could not be eradicated if the state concerned could not ensure employment to its people, he added.

Noting that Manipur has produced many fruits and vegetables that have high demand in other states, Nitin Gadkari reminded that the vegetables and fruits could not be exported if roadways are not developed.

As such, constructing a good quality road to connect Manipur and Assam will be given priority, he assured.

Highlighting the need to complete construction of roads by maintaining quality, with transparency and within stipulated time, he lauded the engineers and contractors involved in construction of Makru Bridge for their sincerity and maintaining quality of the bridge.

The 122-metre long and 15.7-metre wide double lane RCC steel superstructure Arch Bridge, built over Makru river in between Kaiphundai and Longkao Village under in Tamenglong district was formally inaugurated and dedicated to the people Nitin Gadkari.

The cost project of the bridge is Rs 45 crore and was constructed by Bhartia Infrastructure Project Limited (BIPL) under the aegis of National Highways Infrastructure Development Limited (NHIDCL) financed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

The bridge construction work was started in year 2017.Mention may be made that the bridge is located about 189 km from the state capital and 31 km from Jiribam.

The flag-off event was also attended by forest and environment minister Awangbow Newmai, education minister S Rajen Singh, Khurai MLA L Susindro and MoRTH officials.

It may be mentioned that National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

is the implementing agency for the projects which were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid.

Earlier, projects inaugurated by the union minister included two Laning of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 from Wangjing to Khongkhang (46 Km costing Rs 869 crore), strengthening of existing two lane including construction of paved shoulder from Mao to Senapati section (48 Km costing Rs 235 crore), strengthening of existing two lane including construction of paved shoulder of Senapati-Kangpokpi-Koubru Leikha section (27 Km costing Rs.140 crore) and superstructure bridge over River Makru on Jiribam-Barak road on NH-37 with approaches (855 meter costing Rs 62 crore).

Foundation stones were laid for 12 projects including Improvement/up-gradation to four lane highway from Taphou Kuki to Daili section of Imphal-Kohima road (13 km/Rs 379 crore), widening and improvement with paved shoulders from Khudengtha-bi (LHS) & Lokchao (RHS) to Moreh Friendship Bridge of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 (19 km/Rs 278 crore), mprovement/up-gradation to four lane highway from Daili to Kuraopokpi section of Imphal-Kohima road (12 km/Rs 269 crore), widening and improvement with paved shoulders from Khongkhang to Khudengthabi (LHS) & Lok-chao (RHS) of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 (10 km/Rs 260 crore), two laning with paved shoulder from Old Tamenglong to near Phelong of Tamenglong Mahur section (12 km/Rs 234 crore), two laning with hard shoulders from Bendramai to Zuimi of Maram-Paren section of NH-129A (18 km/Rs 232 crore), improvement/up-gradation to four lane highway from Ku-raopokpi to Sekmai section of Imphal Kohima Road (11 km/ Rs 229 crore), two laning with hard shoulders from Maram Centre to Maram Duigan of Maram-Peren section of NH-129A (22 km/Rs 226 crore), improvement/up-gradation to four lane highway from Sekmai to Nilakuthi section of Imphal Kohima Road (11 km /Rs 212 crore), two laning with paved shoulder from Keithelmanbi to Kotlen of Imphal to Jiribam section of NH-37 (17 km/Rs 195 crore), two laning with hard shoulders from Maram Duigan to Willong Khullen of Maram-Peren section of NH-129A (18 km/Rs 188 crore) and two laning with paved shoulder from Oriental College to Keithelmanbi of Imphal to Jiribam section of NH-37 (13 km costing Rs 140 crore) .

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