Rail tunneling stops midway
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 21 2013: Even though Railway authorities have assured that the ongoing work of laying railway line from Jiribam to Tupul would be completed by 2015, the possibility of completing task within the stipulated time is not likely as construction of rail tunnels has halted mid-way.

According to information reaching Hueiyen Lanpao, construction of tunnels in Khongshang area under Tamenglong district has been stopped since yesterday.

The reason for stopping the work has nothing to do with any disturbance from UG groups or general public.

Problem has erupted among the companies executing the work and the concerned authorities.

It is said that around 30 tunnels are to be constructed and the works have been assigned to different companies like Sushi Hi-tech, Patel, Triveni, ECI, Coastal Project Limited and Naik Infra Pvt Ltd.

The portion where the construction work has halted falls under the jurisdiction of Coastal Project Ltd.

Rail tunneling stops midway

Among the companies, most progressive work is that of Coastal Project Ltd which has engaged around 500 skilled and non-skilled workers for construction of 12 tunnels.

Till yesterday, the tunneling works were being carried out from either end.

A Cell of the Assistant Executive Engineer, which is being opened inside the complex of MSRTC at Moirangkhom, monitors all the construction works of the tunnels.

An extension centre of the Cell opened has also been established under the leadership of Ravi Amre, deputy Chief (Construction) at Khongshang.

The non-clearance of bills by the concerned authorities for the Coastal Project Ltd, absence of the staffs of the Assistant Executive Engineer who are supposed to check the progress of the works in the fields and negligence of their duties are the main reasons for stopping the construction works of the tunnels, as any flaw in the construction work would have a direct impact on the company itself, sources pointed out.

Sources further pointed out that some of the workers involved in the construction work have also complaint against alleged favoritism of the concerned authorities towards some other construction companies while releasing the pending bills.

The aggrieved workers have sought intervention of the Railway Ministry in this regard and urged the State Government to look into the matter seriously because the Railway project is one of the most important projects in the State.