Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 13 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that the Imphal-Jiribam railway line will be completed before 2024.
The government is targeting to complete the project before 2024, the chief minister said while responding to a query on the sidelines of handing over of India’s first Olympian Park.
The 111-km railway line, one of the crucial connectivity projects for India’s Northeastern region, is being constructed at an estimated cost of about INR 14,322 crore to connect the state capital Imphal with the country’s broad gauge railway network.
On Wednesday, the Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) carried out a breakthrough blast to mark the completion of excavation works of the main tunnel measuring 7445 m, which connects the hills to Imphal valley.
Construction of the railway project, which passes through steep rolling hills covering five districts of Manipur, involves 52 tunnels and 148 bridges in tough terrains.
Out of 52 tunnels, works for 48 have already been completed while a total of 11 major bridges, substructure of seven bridges and super-structure of five bridges have been completed.
Out of 129 minor bridges, works for 110 have also been completed.
The tallest pier railway bridge of the world with a height of 141 metre-high near Khumji village in Noney district is also nearing completion, according to railway officials.
The bridge will surpass the 139 meter-high Mala-Rijeka viaduct in Montenegro.
The route of the project will cover 11 railway stations out of which six are completed. The section from Jiribam to Khongsang has already been commissioned and the entire project is targeted to be completed by December. The rail project is expected to provide enhanced connectivity to the people of Manipur, help grow small scale industries in the area and boost tourism of the state.
In March 2022, the first train head engine without passenger bogies reached Khongshang Railway Station in Noney district for the first time.