Ring Road 1st project to align with Paris Pact globally
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 24 2024: The Imphal Ring Road Project, which will provide job of 31.5 lakh mandays directly and indirectly has become the first project globally to align with Paris Agreement on Climate Change, said PWD chief engineer and the department's Externally Aided Projects (EAP) project director and chief engineer Y Joykumar, who also called for public cooperation to the project.

Addressing a press meet at Classic Grande, here, on Saturday, Joykumar said that post implementation of Act East Policy and opening of economy to the Asian market has significant impact in Imphal, the commercial hub of the state.

Vehicle numbers in Imphal city has increased from 28,235 in 2014 to 1,74,663 in 2019.As a result, Imphal city is witnessing heavy traffic congestion lately increasing Vehicle Operating Cost and affecting travel experience as well as the economy.

Imphal Ring Road was conceived as a measure to ease traffic congestion in Imphal city and enhance road connectivity in the periphery of Imphal as well.

The 51.23 km long road project is an ADB funded project to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 1,760 crore with the Centre and state sharing fund at the ratio of 80:10.Assistance from ADB will be Rs 1383 crore out of which 90 per cent (Rs 1245 crore) will be borne by the Centre and the remaining 10 per cent (Rs 138 crore) will be repaid by the state in 25 years, for which Centre will bear the interest.

The project, once completed, will result in saving of Rs 250 crore annually including expenditure on GST, he said.

The project is divided into three packages and all of them will be implemented simultaneously.

Package-I covers 19.225 km from Kyamgei to Heingangpat at a cost of more than Rs 340 crore and it will be implemented by AKELIK-KSIPL.

Package-II covers 19.87 km from Heingangpat to Iroisemba at a cost of Rs 497 crore, and Package-III covers 12.135 km from Iroisemba to Kyamgei at a cost of Rs 344 crore, and both packages will be taken up by VENSAR-GKC (JV).

The project includes flyover bridge, underpasses and six key bridges among others, and Letters of Acceptance have been given to the companies on January 25 this year.

Implementation will begin from March end and the completion target is 28 months, he said.

The road will be of two lane and four lane, and 60 per cent of the project cost (Rs 734 crore) will be civil component while the remaining 40 per cent will be utilised in environment mitigation, climate change adaptation measures; promotion of green public transport system; social safeguard, gender equality & social inclusion, he said.

He also assured the people that the project will not affect the livelihood means of those in the affected areas including small businesses as there will be livelihood assistance as per ADB Safeguard Policy.

He urged the public to contact Grievance Redressal Cell of the project in case of any doubts or issues, instead of communicating with ADB, which could hamper the progress of the project.

Key objectives of the Imphal Ring Road project include the construction of a disaster-resilient urban road network through the enhancement and widening of existing city roads and the addition of greenfield roads to offer alternative connectivity to major public institutes.

Additionally, the project seeks to introduce a rapid public transport system involving low-floor e-buses and e-rickshaws for last mile connectivity, thereby reducing reliance on private vehicles and mitigating environmental pollution.

The project is envisioned to boost commercial activities, improve living standards, and enhance the city's value by optimising transport logistics, particularly in trade and commerce with ASEAN countries.

Environmental sustainability is also a priority, with measures planned to reduce carbon footprint through the adoption of energy-efficient transport options and innovative tech nologies during construction, such as smart solar street lights.

Furthermore, the project emphasises social and environmental mitigation measures to address climate change impacts and establish a sustainable core network for disaster relief and rescue operations.

Additionally, road safety enhancements, including improved safety measures and reduced road cutting for utility services through utility duct incorporation, aim to minimise road accidents and fatalities.

The Imphal Ring Road Project is set to adhere to stringent environmental and social safeguards, in line with the LARA 2013 and the country's environmental laws, as well as the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement of 2009.Moreover, the project aligns with the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, aiming to minimise adverse impacts on climate change, noise, and air pollution.

In a bid to reduce carbon footprints, the project will replace conventional street lights with solar-powered ones.

Additionally, it includes initiatives such as rejuvenating ponds along the route and improving the water quality of Ipum Pat for domestic use, while also creating recreational spaces like jogging tracks and open gyms.

Furthermore, the project encompasses the development of two biodiversity parks to preserve local plant species and the introduction of 20 e -buses and 52 e-rickshaws for sustainable urban transport.

Community amenity structures, including community centers, public conveniences, market sheds, and public amenity buildings, are also part of the plan.

Meaningful engagement with stakeholders, including the public, is emphasised, with mechanisms in place for transparent discussions to address concerns.

Gender equality and social inclusion are promoted through initiatives like employment generation for women and vulnerable groups through training workshops and policies.

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