Pallam Raju to arrive today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 11 2012: Even as Minister of State for Defence, MM Pallam Raju is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to assess the condition of NH 53 (Imphal-Jiri Highway), he is likely to miss visiting the most worst stretches of the highway during his itinerary.

MoS (Defence) Pallam Raju, accompanied by Director General of BRO, Ravi Shankar and other Defence Ministry's officials would touch down the Imphal Airport in a special Air Force Plane at 8.45 am tomorrow.

At 8.50 am the minister and the officials would be flown in a helicopter to Tamenglong from Imphal Airport.

After reaching Tamenglong at 10.15, the Minister and the officials would travel by road along Tamenglong-Khongsang stretch wherein he would oversee the condition of the NH 53 .

He would inspect the NH 53 stretch from Khongsang to Imphal.

The Minister would leave Imphal for Delhi at 5.15pm the same day.

Source from the State Government said that the State Government is not responsible for preparing the programme of the Minister's itinerary.

The State has been informed only about the visit of the MoS to the Imphal-Jiri highway.

The source however disclosed that officials of the State PWD might accompany the MoS during his inspection tour.

It may be recalled that the condition of the highway stretch from Awangkhul to Maku was reported to be in the most dilapidated condition during the inspection trip of the State Works Minister, Dr Kh Ratan Kumar few days back.

Some stretches of the highway were found covered with patch of dust to an extent that trailing vehicles get lost in the cloud of thick dust thereby rendering the trailers to be in motion till the dust is cleared off.

The BRO had also assured the Works Minister that the most deplorable stretches of the highway would be made motorable within this month.

The Border Road Organisation (BRO) is an organisation under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

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