Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 25 2010:
The Union Ministry of Surface Transport has reportedly approved the work programme at the estimated cost of Rs 36 crore for realignment of the Imphal-Moreh stretch of NH-39 from Lilong Usoipokpi point to Waithou hillock.
A source in the State's Public works Department said the Ministry has completed relevant process for realignment of the road section which runs along the hillocks as the portion is considered an important stretch for the futuristic Trans-Asian Highway.
The source said the Union Ministry views the sharp turn from Usoipokpi upto Waithou as a stumbling block as the Trans Asian Highway would be passing through the NH-39 route to Moreh.
Under the road realignment programme, lake area on either side of the Waithou hill-lock would be filled or dredged to straighten the section in addition to broadening the Usoipokpi bridge and widening the road width by 100 metre on both sides.
It is also informed that after the Ministry's inclusion of the road realignment project in the work programme the State's Public Works Department submitted a detailed project report of Rs 31 crore which the Centre could not sanction initially.
However, a revised estimate of Rs 36 crore for the same project was recently placed before the Ministry and there is high expectation the Centre would release the amount at the earliest, the source maintained.
Regarding land compensation to families affected by the road widening programme, the source said the State Government would bear the compensation expenditure to which the latter had also consented.
The source further disclosed that another detailed project report of Rs 313 crores has been submitted to the Union Ministry for implementation of road development works.