CM pledges improved public transport service
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 11 2024:
Chief minister N Biren Singh launched the Imphal Ukhrul-Imphal Route, Manipur Heli Service virtually from the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Monday morning.
During the event, the CM also opened District Transport Offices (DTOs) of Jiribam, Kakching, Noney, Pherzawl and Kamjong.
Speaking in connection with the launch event, CM Biren thanked the central government for launching the Manipur Heli-service in 2018 besides commending transport minister Khashim Vashum and officials of the department for their efforts in materialisation of the same.
Expressing that launch of the Ukhrul Heli-service will ease the problem encountered by the people while transporting patients and during other emergencies including natural disasters like landslides, Biren also highlighted that Manipur Heli-service is already made operational on Imphal - Churachandpur, Imphal-Aizawl via Churachandpur, Imphal-Lairouching, Imphal-Dimapur via Lairouching, and Imphal-Moreh routes among others.
Since its launch in 2018, the Heli-service has flown around 31,163 passengers, he maintained and confided that the government is working to maximise coverage in the hill districts.
Informing that fares for Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Tamenglong routes have been subsidised, the CM said that the Imphal-Ukhrul fare will also be made available at the subsidised rate of Rs 2500.The work for providing the heli-service has been carried out with the central funding of 75 per cent and the state's share of 25 per cent, he conveyed.
Biren then said that after the advent of the BJP government, the erstwhile Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was dissolved and re-constituted as Manipur State Transport (MST) to ensure resumption of public transport services.
As such, DTOs have been opened in Jiribam, Kakching, Noney, Pherzawl and Kamjong districts to extend the same service.
Responding to queries from reporters, Biren in formed that the fire incident at Kwatha Khunou on Sunday happened at a lone abandoned house with Tengnoupal SP instructed to investigate cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, the chief minister urged people collecting donations along the roads to stop immediately to facilitate disturbance-free movement to all concerned.
He then invited anyone seeking donation to come to his office, provided the reason for seeking donation is genuine.
The function was also attended by Transport minister Khashim Vashum, Health minister Dr S Sapam Ranjan, Social Welfare minister H Dingo, Hill Areas Committee chairman Dinganglung Gangmei, MLAs Leishiyo Keishing, Ram Muivah, Ashab Uddin, Kh Loken, Ibomcha, and Sapam Kunjakeswor (Keba), member of parliament (Rajya Sabha) Leishemba Sanajaoba, chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, administrative secretaries and officials of the department.
Ukhrul DC Kengoo Zur ingla, district level officials, CSO leaders and others also attended the formal function at the DC office Ukhrul through video conferencing.