Imphal-Jiri stretch not yet ready for BCIM rally
CM seeks PM's attention
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2013: Given the BRO's slow pace of work on a 26 Km long section of Imphal-Jiribam highway which would put to shame both the State Government and Government of India as the scheduled BCIM car rally would pass through the same highway, Chief Minister O Ibobi has sought immediate attention of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Though the BCIM car rally which would be flagged off from Kolkata on February 21 would pass through Imphal-Jiribam highway, the 26 Km long section of the highway has not been repaired at all.

As such, the State Government will face an embarrassing situation before the participating countries of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, conveyed an official source.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport has sought a status report of Imphal-Jiribam highway keeping in view the scheduled BCIM car rally.

However, the State Government has not sent any report till date.

Of the highway's total length of 222 Kms, 86 Kms have not been black-topped.

File pic of a stretch along Imphal-Jiri line

BRO submitted a revised DPR to the Ministry of Road Transport for 41 Kms long section of the highway within the portion which have not been black-topped yet but the Ministry has not given its approval so far.

Out of these 41 Kms, BRO has started work on 15 Kms just to make it traffic worthy.

For the remaining 26 Kms, no work has been initiated as the Ministry's approval of the revised DPR has not been received.

Condition of this 26 Kms long section is deplorable with columns of dust creating havoc whenever a vehicle passes by during the dry season.

Ten cars from China which would take part in the rally would reach Imphal on February 14 and they would go up to the rally's starting point passing through Imphal-Jiribam highway.

As such there is an urgent need to repair the highway otherwise both the State Government and the Centre would face a very shameful situation before the participating foreign countries.

Taking serious note of this embarrassing situation, Chief Minister O Ibobi has written to the Prime Minister seeking the latter's intervention so that the Ministry of Road Transport approves the revised DPR and the highway is made at least traffic worthy before the rally.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary has written to the Union Transport Secretary urging for approval of the revised DPR.

The car rally which would be flagged off from Kolkata on February 21 would reach Imphal on February 26 after passing through Dhaka and Silchar.

After covering a total distance of 2800 Kms, the rally would finish at Kunming, China on March 5 .