Imphal-Mandalay bus service likely in March
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 20 2015:
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary V Chibber has stated that he is confident of introducing Imphal-Mandalay bus service by March this year.
Talking to The Sangai Express, V Chibber said that the international bus service may be launched when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Myanmar in March.
The Government of India has been actively pursuing the matter (introduction of bus service between Imphal and Mandalay) with the Government of Myanmar.
Stating that he made a direct assessment of Imphal-Moreh highway yesterday, Chibber informed that he inspected the building where visa on arrival facility would be opened as well as the Customs office at Moreh together with Ministry of Home Affairs, Joint Secretary Sambhu Singh.
Necessary CID as well as police personnel would be deployed at the two offices/buildings shortly.
Preparations on the side of India is complete.
Imphal-Mandalay bus service is now awaiting a green signal from the Government of Myanmar, Chibber said.
Myanmar wants to repair/reconstruct 66 vintage bridges which dot the highway between Tamu and Mandalay.
But heavy vehicles have been crossing these bridges without any problem.
As such, these bridges would not pose any problem when Imphal-Mandalay bus service is launched.
Pointing out that a joint team of Indian and Myanmar officials recently conducted a field survey on the alignment of a highway which would connect Imphal with Mandalay, Chibber said that the new highway would take an additional hour for one to travel to Mandalay from Imphal.
Informing that Maram-Peren-Dimapur road, Khongshang-Tamenglong road and Ukhrul-Tadubi road have been recognised as highways, Chibber stated that Maram-Peren highway would be the third highway which connects Manipur with the outside world.
Talking about Imphal-Jiribam highway, he clarified that there is no pending sanction with the relevant Ministry required for construction of the highway.
The amount of Rs 260 crore sanctioned by the Ministry has not been fully utilized.
Nevertheless, BRO has been promising that the highway construction work would be completed by March this year except for a 15 Kms long section.
The Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways went up to Nungba and inspected the condition of Imphal-Jiribam highway.
He would make a field assessment of the existing condition of Maram-Peren road tomorrow.