Trial run of Imphal-Mandalay bus flagged off
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2015:
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today flagged off the trial run of Imphal-Mandalay bus service from Hotel Imphal today morning.
The Indian delegates comprised of 21 officials from Transport, PWD, Police, Commerce and Industries and Medical Departments of the State Government and six officials from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry Home Affairs and Department of Revenue.
The State team is led by IG (Law and Order) Clay Khongsai.
The trial run bus will cover a total distance of 859 km and it would pass through cities like Tamu, Kalay, Monywa and Mandalay.
A reception function to welcome the delegates would be held by the Myanmar Government at Nay-Pyi-Taw on December 11 .
It is said that Indian Ambassador to Myanmar will also host a reception for the delegates at Mandalay on December 12 .
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The delegates will return to Imphal along with a 32-member Myanmarese delegates team in 8 vehicles on December 14 .
Today's flag-off ceremony was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Works and Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip, DGP Shahid Ahmed and other high ranking officials of the Transport Department.
Speaking to reporters before the flag-off ceremony, a Transport Department official said that the Imphal-Mandalay bus service is a long-cherished dream of the people of Manipur.
The bus service is intended to bring the people of the two countries especially the Manipuris of Myanmar and the people of the State closer, she said.
The State Government has been pressing the Centre to launch the bus service since 2006-2007 .
The Government of India started showing interest in the bus service after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs conducted a series of meetings with the Minister concerned and officials of the State Government, she said.
In June last year, the Government of India sent an inter-Ministerial team to Nay-Pyi-Taw to discuss the matter with officials of Myanmar Government.
In January this year, a joint survey team travelled up to Mandalay to assess the road conditions and finalise the route of the bus service, she said.
The official further said that the total length of Imphal-Mandalay road is about 579 km if it goes via Yargyi road.
However, this route is not an all-weather road at present, she said.
There is another route which must be taken via Gangnaw and it is 121 km longer than the route mentioned earlier.
The delegates would travel on both the routes during the trial run, she said.
Saying that around 1000 Meetei Brahmins are residing in Mandalay, the official expressed hope that the bus service would definitely prove to be a boon to the people of both the countries and open a huge opportunity for trade and commerce.
The bus service is an encouraging step towards economic growth and enhancement of cultural ties, she said.
The official also said that the trial run has been arranged by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India as a part of regulation of passenger and cargo vehicular traffic movements for India-Mayan- mar-Thailand route.