Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 12 (EMN): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated the Makru bridge located about 170 km west of Imphal at Tamenglong district of Manipur and laid foundation stones for 15 other national highway projects with a total length of 298 km and investment worth INR 4,148 crore.
The formal inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony was organised by the Manipur government at City Convention Centre in Imphal after the union minister was accorded a warm welcome at the Bir Tikendrajit International airport in Imphal.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had always given priority for the development of Northeastern states.
Asserting that there is no dearth of funds in the central government, he urged the state government to cooperate with his ministry and expedite the works to the optimum and also asked the authorities to solve any issues in land acquisition and environment clearance of the projects at an early date.
Stating that the country had incurred a large amount of expenses in importing petroleum products, he informed that the central government is working on diversification of agriculture into the energy and power sectors.
He stressed on the need to create employment potential in the backward area of the country, by making agriculture economically viable, which would help in eradicating poverty.
He also announced the establishment of a Model Inspection and Certification Centre in the state with state of art equipment to test the fitness of vehicles.
He also accorded sanction for elevated highway project with a cost of INR 5,000 crore and asked the state government to complete the DPRs and start the tender process.
Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh in his speech stated that the inauguration of Makru Bridge was a milestone achievement for enabling seamless movement of goods and services along the NH-37 bringing relief to both transporters and the public.
Informing that the construction of Barak bridge would also be completed before December this year, he stated that the government had been extending all possible assistance in removing difficulties for timely completion of the bridge.
Union minister of state for Development of North Easter Region and Ministry of Cooperation, B L Verma, Manipur’s PWD minister Th Biswajit Singh, MPs Dr. Lorho S Pfoze (Lok Sabha) and Leishemba Sanajaoba (Rajya Sabha), ministers, MLAs, high ranking civil and police officials were present at the event.
The union minister along with the state chief minister visited the bridge site by chopper to flagged-off the newly constructed 855-meter-long bridge over Makru River along the Imphal-Jiribam sector of the NH-37. The project cost of the bridge was INR 62 crore.