Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Centre agrees to raise highway improvement fund for Manipur

Imphal, Aug 26: The Centre has agreed to the raising of funds allocation for improvement of national highways in Manipur to Rs. 40 crores from the existing Rs. 13 crores, a report from New Delhi said Tuesday.

Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways Thiru Baalu agreed to the same during a meeting with the state chief minister at New Delhi today to discuss the progress and status of various road sector projects in Manipur, said the source here.

On the request of the state chief minister, Thiru Baalu agreed to raise the allocation of funds for improvement of national highways in the state during 2008-09 to Rs. 40 crores from the existing allocation of Rs. 13 crores, the source added.

The minister also agreed to accord additional sanctions of works for improvement of Imphal-Moreh road (NH-39) of the state and also NH-150 leading to Imphal airport.

Thiru Baalu assured the chief minister that his ministry would also consider other proposals of the state government depending upon the resources etc, the source said.

Manipur chief minister, O Ibobi Singh is currently camping at New Delhi.

Sources here said that he is there to press the Centre as well as Planning Commission of India for early release of the plan outlays for the year 2008-09, most importantly the special plan outlay.

He is accompanied by officials of the state planning department and other concerned and has with him the utilization certificates for the SPA 2007-08 funds utilized by the state government which is behind the non-release of the funds allocated under SPA 2008-09. The planning commission of India had agreed to an outlay of Rs. 550 crores for the state of Manipur.

The state government, with the funds from the Centre, is currently undertaking works for the expansion and improvement of all the three highways - 39, 53 and 150 passing through the state.

While the eviction of encroachers along the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39 is in progress, the state Cabinet in a meeting on August 23 approved the expansion of the NH-150 from Imphal to Churachandpur which is around 61 kms in length.

The Cabinet approved expansion of the NH-150 from Keishampat bridge to Churachandpur town to make it 125 feet wide from the current 100 ft and asked the concerned state authorities to take up steps for demarcation of the land and identification of the land to be affected by the expansion.

It also approved the provision for adequate compensation to the affected land holders at the meeting.

Dismantling of structures including a women’s marketplace named Tampha bazar located opposite the Manipur University gate at Canchipur, on the eastern side of the NH-39 from Canchipur bridge to Lilong bridge which were built on encroached public land is currently underway.

The state PWD is demolishing the structures for expansion of the highway as well as for the purposed development of the Maharaja Gambhir Singh samadhi and Leishang Hiden, sources said.

Four-lanning of the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 is also under progress at present.

Source: The Imphal Free Pres

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