ISBT now turns into 'loo'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 16 2013: Contrary to the repeated claims of Congress Government taking up landmark projects in the State, the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on December 3, 2011 along with City Convention Centre and some other buildings, has today turned into a public toilet with no authority to look after the complex.

The Inter-State Bus Terminus has been constructed under the funding of North Eastern Council (NEC).

The project amounting to Rs.26.4 crores was sanctioned during the financial year 2008-09 and it was awarded to a Hyderabad-based construction firm "Avantika" by State Public Works Department.

The whole project comprises a large shopping complex, waiting hall, railway ticket counter and other offices.

The present condition of ISBT was completed long back during the tenure of Works Minister K Ranjit.

Hearths for cooking food by truck drivers/handymen could be seen all along the corridor of the ISBT complex

The SPF-II Government at that time considered that the ISBT was in a stage ready for inauguration and thus invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to inaugurate the complex during their sojourn on December 3, 2011 .

The Bus Terminus is still in an incomplete stage with no lighting system and no black topping of the approach roads inside the Complex.

As per investigation of Hueiyen Lanpao, no worker was found working at the ISBT currently.

The complex has been turned into a place for defecation and urination with no authority to look after this public property for the past one and half years.

Even though there is no official order allowing utilization of this Bus Terminus, the oil tankers of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) were found parked inside the Complex.

The drivers and handymen have already started using the toilets in an unkempt manner.

The whole Complex has become quite unhygienic due to improper defecation and urination.

The Shopping Complex was also found to be demolished by some people.

The walls of the building were also found stained, thus, requiring repair even before it is being utilized.

However, the State Public Works Department is yet to handover the ISBT to State Transport Department.

An official of PWD disclosed to Hueiyen Lanpao that the project could not be completed timely due to cost escalation and some pending works of drainage and electrification which could not be done due to shortage of about Rs.9 crores.

The official further disclosed that the State government has not yet sanctioned its 10 percent share of the project, and so the project would eventually fail if things go on in such a manner.