Revised list under CRIF sent
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 27 2024: The State Government has sent a fresh proposal to the Centre to take up 92 road projects under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) by making some alterations in the approval given for 57 projects.

Notably, the Centre had approved 57 projects for implementation in Manipur under CRIF recently out of the 119 road projects submitted by the State.

An official at the Public Works Department (PWD) said that the fresh proposal was sent as some cases have overlapped in the approval given by the Centre and as some concrete roads are to be built in Greater Imphal.

The administrative control of CRIF falls under the Ministry of Finance.

The PWD official said that the approval given by the Centre overlaps with some concrete road projects.

Saying that they made some changes in the approval given by the Centre due to the overlapping of road projects, he added that the fresh proposal for 92 road projects was sent by adding some additional works.

He also said that the fresh proposal includes road projects which the State plans to take up in hill districts.

It may be mentioned that the All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) had expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of Rs 217.50 crore under CRIF which has been directed solely towards road repair projects in the valley districts.

In a formal representation submitted to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari through the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), AMTU described the allocation as a clear example of the State Government's biased approach to distributing development funds.

Further stating that the fresh proposal covers all Assembly Constituencies in Manipur, the source maintained that one or two ACs may not have been included in the proposal for concrete road projects.

The source further said that the previous proposal which sought approval for 119 road projects wasn't sent to CRIF due to unavailability of funds.

About excluding hill districts while approving road projects under CRIF, the source said that the CRIF fund allocated last year was only for hill districts and no valley districts were included.

He also said that 80 per cent of the funds released for road projects under NEC are being implemented in hill districts.

Among others, the fresh proposal seeks approval for construction of Bishnupur Mayang Imphal Road with an expenditure of Rs 15 crore, added the source.

Stating that Porompat Ayangpali road won't be repaired from CRIF, the source added that there is a plan to build a concrete road along the same road stretch.

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