Manipur Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday said that tender for construction of Imphal Diversion Road will be floated shortly while rigid pavement to be constructed at road side will be by December of this year.
He stated this on the 3rd of ongoing monsoon session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly session as a response to the demand and discussion moved MLA K Ranjit Singh; MLA K Meghachandra Singh and MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh.
The cut motion was moved on account of inability to take up work programme during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, inability to renovate and repair roads and bridges, lack of coordination between PWD and other departments, inability to take up work programme due to cancellation of administrative approval orders accorded during financial year 2020-2021 amounting to Rs 5,62,44,00 and so on.
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Govindas said that the Public Works Department has liabilities of around Rs 560 crore. On top of this, COVID-19 pandemic also impacted road construction works for almost two years and because of this, they are not in a position to take up road construction in every place at once. However, construction for roads, which are considered of economic importance, will take place soon, the minister said.
He further said that the government is also well aware that to have proper road infrastructure is a driving force for economic development. With this view, the state government is putting all effort to get funds from all available sources in order to enhance the connectivity, he added.
Through the funding from ADB which is worth more than Rs 1000 crore, construction of Imphal Diversion Road will begin soon. The tender for this work will float shortly and the project of rigid pavement by December this year. Apart from this, an elevated highway project for 25 Km that is worth Rs 4,000 crore is also in pipeline, he added.
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He also said that road capacity and traffic volume of the state is highly disproportionate. To ease out the traffic congestion, widening of roads in Imphal areas will be taken up. For this, 79 places are identified and marking has also been completed, the minister informed.
He also said that having a high amount of liabilities, the government had cancelled work orders for around Rs 900 crore. The state government will clear 20 to 25 per cent of total liability worth Rs 560 crore within this year, he added.
In order to maintain the quality of road construction, the state government will install a quality control lab within this year and any imported bitumen will be tested in the lab to identify its standard. Any inferior quality bitumen will not be used in road construction, the minister said and added that a Co-ordination committee was also formed so that construction work can be carried out efficiently by coordinating with the line department.
He said that Imphal to Wabagai Lamkhai to Kakching Khunou stretches of 45 Km comes under national highway and its construction will begin soon. Wabagai to Sugnu, which is of around 27.40 Km, is a state highway and from Sugnu to ChakpiKarong, which is of around 13.10 Km, is looked after by the BRO, the minister said.
The state government had sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for padding up of Wabagai to Chakpikarong (40.50 Km) road considering this stretch as road of economic importance, he added.
He also assured to look into the matter of enlisting Ukhrul-Kamjong as national highway and renovation of Ukhrul Transit Hostel and Ukhrul Circuit House and completion of construction of PWD Guest House. Construction of the road from Kasom to the Namli border will take place by December if funds are received from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
