Work agencies told to expedite NH-202 work
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, January 25 2023: The state government is running against the clock to complete the ongoing expansion of National Highway-202 from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Comer in Ukhrul district before the state - level Shirui Lily festival scheduled for May.

The festival is celebrated to mark the blooming of the endangered and rare Shirui Lily on the Shirui Hills of Ukhrul district.

The lily, which blooms in May-June, is the state flower of Manipur.

A high-level team comprising Transport minister Khashim Vashum's representative Ashon Muiwo, Ukhral MLARam Muiv-ah, and Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing conducted a joint spot inspection of the NH-202 double lane project on Wednesday.

The team was accompanied by Ukhrul DC Krishna Kumar, SDO Suranjoy; Dharmendra Choudhary, Executive Director NHID-CL; John Shelly (Lt Colonel), General Manager Ukhrul NHID-CL along with the contractors concerned and departmental officials.

The inspection team took stock of the work progress and instructed the officials of NHID -CL and the contractors to work in full swing on the ongoing project and to complete before the Shirui Lily festival in 2023 .

Speaking to media persons after the inspection, MLA Leishiyo Keishing conveyed that the joint inspection was conducted under the directive of chief minister N Biren Singh in order to ensure proper roadway connectivity and mass participation in the forthcoming state festival.

"Most of the issues relating to land acquisition, compensation and others that affected the work progress have been cleared and now the NHIDCL and the contractors are readying to hand over the road to the public before the Shirui Lily festival which is scheduled for 17 May, " he said.

He expressed hope that the ongoing double laning of the highway would be fully com pleted before the onset of monsoon season this year.

To ensure timely completion of the work, MLA Ram Muivah sought cooperation from all the stakeholders, especially affected landowners and villagers and urged not to cause any obstruction to the work.

The inspection team paid a patient hearing to various grievances of the affected land owners at Shangkai,, Mongkot Chepo, Litan Sareikhong, TM Kasom, Shokvao and Ramva who complained of incomplete payment, inconsistencies in awarding compensation, faulty classification, measurements and wrong identification of land owners.

The team gave necessary instructions to the officials of NHIDCL and contractors to sort out the matters amicably and also asked Ukhrul DC to pay off full compensation for both lands and properties to the remaining affected land owners so as to ensure smooth progress and timely completion of the work.

The inspection team further directed the contractors to proceed with the work in full swing where land compensations have been settled, while also directing the district administration to lodge FIR against anyone who obstructs the work after getting the compensations.

Responding to land owners demand for full compensation before blaektopping, Ukhrul DC assured that the entire process of arbitration in the matter of compensation to the affected land owners would be completed in two months' time.

It is learnt that the ongoing project which started in 2020 consists of two parts in the form of Packages I and II .

Under NH 202 Package I, widening/improvement to two lane with earthen shoulder of Yaingangpokpi-Finch Corner section from 0.00 km to 16.90 km is to be undertaken at a total cost of Rs 237.39 crore, while the same specifications of works along the highway stretch from 16.90 km to 30.970 km is to be executed at a cost of Rs 241.42 crore under NH 202 Package II .

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