Complete Imphal-Ukhrul highway stretch work...Before Shirui Lily Fest call rung out
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, May 16 2022: Peeved over the shabby conditions of Imphal-Ukhrul road which has increased the risk of road accidents during the monsoon, a group of Ukhrul denizens has urged the State Government to expedite the construction work of Imphal-Ukhrul highway stretch without delay.

They also said that the road will not become any safer or reduce the rate of traffic accidents on its own and asked the authorities concerned to stop mud slinging and instead focus on providing a better road to the people.

Speaking to this correspondent, the group of people highlighted that the Ukhrul-Imphal road is in a pitiful condition and is prone to road accidents during the rainy season.

Complete Imphal-Ukhrul highway stretch work

They added that frequent mudslide and erratic water flow endanger the lives of those who travel along the Imphal-Ukhrul road and it is a tedious task for the drivers when they have to go uphill.

Saying that drivers and passengers are left at the mercy of the shabby road, the Ukhrul denizens said that the road is also not fit for commuting in dry season too as it is dusty and bumpy.

Continuing that a large number of people will visit Ukhrul to attend the Shirui Lily festival which is scheduled to be held from May 25 to May 28 at Ukhrul, the group of people claimed that those planning to visit Ukhrul will surely be frustrated with the pathetic road conditions.

The ongoing construction work of Ukhrul-Imphal road which is 30.9 km long started in 2020 and is being executed by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Construction Limited (NHIDCL) .

Though, the contract work was awarded to Varaha Infra Pvt Limited for widening and improvement of NH-202 to two lanes from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner including maintenance of the existing road at an estimated cost worth hundreds of crores of rupees, the project is not progressing due to several issues pertaining to land acquisition, compensation, dispute etc.

According to reliable sources, only 4 per cent of land had officially been handed over for construction and maintenance of the highway to NHIDCL.

Issues of land dispute in various pockets in this ongoing highway construction on Ukhrul-Imphal road are also yet to be fully settled till date while the demand for compensation by land owners concerned has frequently delayed the work progress.

It might be mentioned that some villages have even refused to co-operate due to compensation related issues.

Until all these lapses are settled amicably, the vital road stretch would remain underdeveloped causing severe inconvenience to the commuters.