Indo-Myanmar border road to be declared new national highway

IMPHAL — Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta, said a 658-km Indo–Myanmar border road project is under feasibility assessment and will soon be declared a new national highway.

Addressing a press briefing in Imphal on Wednesday evening, the union minister who is on a 3-day visit to Manipur said, “Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is working with total 11 numbers of national highways with a total length of 1774 km in the state.”

“A length of 747 km has been improved with black topping till date, converting single lane to two lane configurations and the balance lengths of 332 km will be completed in the next financial year 2026-27,” Tamta said.

In total, 51 project packages are underway, involving an expenditure of INR 12,000 crore over the past five years, he added.

Informing that the MoRTH is undertaking extensive works to strengthen road connectivity across Manipur, he said these projects are being implemented through the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the state Public Works Department.

Also read: Union Minister Ajay Tamta reviews projects in Churachandpur

The visiting central minister also noted that land acquisition and forest clearance issues had delayed 35 project packages, but the NHIDCL has renewed its focus to ensure timely completion.

He added that three major highway corridors, namely Imphal to Jiribam (NH-37), Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner (NH-202) and Tamenglong to Mahur (NH-137), along with Churachandpur to Tuivai (NH-102B) and Maram to Peren (NH-129A), are targeted for completion by 2025–26.

He also informed that the NHIDCL is preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for additional highways, including 262 km Churachandpur to Tipaimukh (NH-02) and a Greenfield alignment of 57.91 km Mao to Senapati (NH-02).

Additionally, the union minister disclosed that connectivity with Nagaland is being upgraded from single-lane to two-lane standards on three major routes including 156 km Ukhrul to Jessami (NH-202), 97 km Mao Gate to Imphal (NH-02) and 104 km Maram to Peren (NH-129A).

Mentioning that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Imphal–Moirang four-laning project is in its final stages of alignment with the state government, he added that the 203 km Imphal–Jiribam Highway (NH-37), Manipur’s lifeline, will be fully completed by 2025–26, with 152 km already upgraded and black-topped.

The union minister arrived in Manipur on Tuesday to review the progress of ongoing central and state development projects, particularly highways. He has so far visited Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.

After returning to Imphal, Ajay Tamta called on Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and briefed him about his visit to Pherzawl district.

He is scheduled to depart for New Delhi after visiting the Kanglatombi War Memorial, followed by a briefing by NHIDCL officials on Thursday.