48 hrs deadline set to take up work on NH-37
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 09 2025: A joint body of local clubs, organisations, Meira Paibis and shopkeepers has set a deadline of 48 hours for the authorities concerned to start construction of NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) from Oriental College to Yurembam.

After the local clubs and the public petitioned the Chief Secretary and the Imphal West DC, the DC made a direct assessment of the deplorable condition of Oriental College-Yurembam section of the highway which was not repaired for a very long time.

After inspecting the deplorable condition of the highway section, the DC instructed NHIDCL and M/S Avantika to complete the highway construction work before the onset of the rainy season.

48 hrs deadline set to take up work on NH-37

Subsequently, the companies/firms started construc- ting the highway section but now it has been five days since the construction work has been suspended.

As the particular highway section has decayed to the extreme, people living along the section have been enduring serious health hazards caused by thick volumes of dust.

Moreover, people travelling along the highway are also facing many difficulties, said Patsoi Langjing Bazar Board secretary Ng Noren.

Saying that the people never raised any objection to highway construction works, Noren asked as to why the particular highway section has not been repaired for such a long time.

He went on to ask as to why NHIDCL and M/S Avantika have suspended the highway construction work despite the Imphal West DC's instruction to complete the same work at the earliest.

Noren also appealed to the Imphal West DC to see that his assurance to complete the highway construction within a short time does not prove to be an empty assurance.

The assurance to water the highway section seven-eight times in a day to check dust pollution has not been put into action yet, he said before urging the DC to pay special attention to the matter.

If the authorities do not resume the highway construction work within 48 hours, different forms of intense agitation would be launched and the authorities should bear responsibility for the consequences, he added.

Back on March 24 this year, local people living on either side of the stretch of National Highway-37 had blocked the road protesting the shabby conditions of the stretch.

The people had vowed to continue the blockade until authorities take concrete steps to improve the road.

The protesters had demanded urgent Government action to repair the highway, which they said had been in a state of disrepair for four years.

The locals had then warned that the blockade will continue until road construction work begins.

The protestors had also criticized NHIDCL for its failure to repair the 15-km stretch of the Highway.

The uproar of the people had prompted Chief Secretary PK Singh to take a first hand account of the road condition and accordingly strict instruction was issued to complete the road repair work in good time.