No takers for Jessami route
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10 2011:
Several petroleum product carriers, including LPG bullet tankers, currently stranded in Assam's Khatkati area have reportedly declined the State Government move to bring them through the Jessami route via Kohima opting to ply on the Imphal-Jiribam route.
Decision of the transporters to travel on the National Highway-53 follows an agreement between officials and representatives of Deputy General Manager (Operation) of IOC Guwahati, State Level Co-ordinator (Sales) of IOC Imphal Divisional Office, Director (Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution), Deputy Director (Transport) and transporters at the Chingmeirong office of IOC depot.
An informed source said about 100 oil tankers and LPG carriers stranded at Khatkati will leave the place on August 11 morning and is likely to take about five days to reach here.
The returning vehicles would be provided adequate security cover under the supervision of Director General of Police Manipur, it informed and confided that an agreement was reached in today's meeting for deputing joint delegation of IOC, transporters and Government officials concerned to accompany some goods carriers in order to assess feasibility of transportation through the Jessami route.
It is further said that the CRPF would also carry out a survey on the same route as plying of vehicles on both NH-39 and 53 remains uncertain due to the ongoing agitation by Sadar Hills District-hood Demand Committee for over a week now.
On the otherhand, representatives of some transport bodies expressed strong apprehension on plying on the Jessami route insisting that travelling on the alternative route would be risky, added the source.