Railway project will meet completion target: MoS Darshana
Despite various challenges efforts are on to expedite completion of Jiribam Imphal Project: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, August 25 2022: The Jiribam-Imphal railway, which is being taken up as a national project in the state is all set to meet its completion target of December 2023, said Union minister of state for railways and textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh.

As a part of her four-day state visit, Darshana inspected progress of the on going 111 km long railway line project, taken up in an estimated cost of Rs 12,264.15 crore and targeted for completion by December 2023."The works are progressing well and I am sure the project will meet its completion target," the union minister reiterated on the sidelines of an inspection visit conducted on Wednesday.

She said construction of the world's tallest rail bridge as well as the tunnels is now 50 per cent over and once completed the project will not only enhance connectivity of the state with other major cities of the country but also bring about a marked change in the tourism sector of Manipur, Darshana remarked.

She also said the project has huge potential for tourism like world's tallest railway bridge and second longest railway tunnel and lauded the Manipur government for extending cooperation to NFR in the implementation of the project.

"Northeast Frontier Railway in consultation with the state government will develop picnic sites at various locations of the railway line," she said, adding that Indian railways always take into account tourism while implementing railway projects.

Recalling the recent devastating landslide tragedy at railway project site at Marangching in Noney district, the union minister also said that all safety measures to prevent occurrence of such tragic incidents will be put in place along the whole stretch of the railway line.

Alarm system will be installed at strategic locations and for this, consultations with IIT and other pertinent authorities are being held.

She said union railway ministry took the tragic incident seriously and is concerned about the safety of passengers like, she added.

MoS Darshana also lauded the authorities of Northeast Frontier Railways for using geotextiles and agro-textiles products in the implementation of the project.

According to NFR general manager Anshul Gupta the track laying work up to Khongsang will be completed and train services started up to the completed portion by September this year.

All safety measures and warning system of latest technology will be installed.

Consultants have been appointed for this purpose, he said.

Responding to queries from the media, he said that the survey for extension of railway line from Imphal to Moreh has already started and once the survey is completed, ground work will commence as soon as the central government sanctions the project.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday held a review meeting on the progress of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line project that is still under construction.

The meeting was attended by Darshana Vikram Jardosh, state's transport minister Khashim Vashum, senior railways officials and state government officials at the CM's Secretariat in Imphal.

Biren Singh said that despite various challenges, including the unfortunate Tupul landslide, efforts are on to expedite the completion of the ongoing 111-km Manipur railway project.

"In presence of Hon'ble Union MoS for railways, Smt@DarshanaJardosh Ji, held a review meeting with railways officials and state officials to review the progress of Jiribam- Imphal railway line," the CM tweeted.

Manipur recently witnessed one of the most tragic landslides at the railway construction site at Makhuam village in Noney district.

At least 61 persons, including Territorial Army and railway officials were killed, while 18 others were injured.

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