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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 2 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday inaugurated the Bailey bridge over Irang River in Noney district to restore the normal vehicular movement along Imphal-Jiribam sector of NH-37, which is considered as the second lifeline of the state.
Singh also laid the foundation stone for the construction of 4-lane RCC Bridge at Taobam village, located about 100 km west of Imphal.
The 150ft long Bailey bridge, which was collapsed on November 1, was assembled by the 52nd Engineering Regiment of the Indian Army in co-ordination with National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) and the Manipur government.
On the other hand, the RCC Bridge will be constructed at an estimated cost of INR 49.31 crore by NHIDCL.
Manipur Forest and Environment minister Awangbow Newmai, Tamenglong ADC Chairman Namsinrei Panmei, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Works) P Vaiphei, GOC Major General VT Mathew of 57 Mountain Division and Executive Director Rajeev Sood of NHIDCL were also present at the function.
Speaking on the occasion, N Biren said, earlier the state mainly relied on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur route) for shipping-in of essential items as NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam route) was not in a good shape. "However, NH-37 has also improved a lot in the past few years thereby truly serving as the second lifeline of the state," he said.
Lauding the efforts of the Indian Army in this regard, the chief minister announced a reward of INR 5 lakh with commendation certificate to the 52nd Engineering Regiment for the good work done for the people of Manipur.
Singh said he had also requested the NHIDCL to complete Makru and Barak RCC bridges by mid-January next year and Irang bridge by December next year. Once these three RCC bridges are completed, there would not be any further problem of bridge collapse, he said.
Assuring that the land compensation will be looked into and will try to redress soon, he said Noney will become a tourist spot, which can even attract foreign tourists, because the Indian Railways is currently developing the highest railway bridge of the world there.
He informed that after the formation of the new government in the state, footfall of foreign tourists had increased to over 10,000 per year as compared to around 400-500 per year earlier.
In his speech, Awangbow Newmai said that the chief minister had a strong determination to build concrete bridges on Imphal-Jiribam road. He also urged the public not to disturb the national projects in their pursuit to fulfil a demand. The minister also urged the public to extend cooperation in taking up developmental works.