Imphal, September 05: The State Police Department has submitted a proposal to the Union Home Ministry to sanction Rs 5 lakhs to enable the police to set up security posts along NH-53.Speaking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the proposal was submitted to the Centre following the sensitisation of the route by the Army and handing over the security charge to the CRPF.

Police Headquarters approached the Centre to set up the security posts to house the CRPF personnel following the assurances given by the Union Home Secretary that the Centre will spare no efforts to develop and protect the highway.

The security posts are to be built by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation and along with the DC of Tamenglong altogether 18 sites have identified for the security posts to come up, said the source.

On the other hand, the BRTF has been pressed into action to ensure that the bridges located between Barak and Jiribam are strengthened so that it can bear the weight of 24 tonner trucks.

The BRTF is likely to submit an Action Plan for the bridge strengthening exercise to the State Government within this month.

Even though plans are afoot to replace the bailey and Hamilton bridges between at the Makru valley and Barak valley with RCC bridges, the existing bridges will be strengthened to carry the carry the weight of 24 tonner trucks as building RCC bridges will take time.

Discussions are also underway to tackle the difficulties likely to be faced while converting the Barak to Jiribam stretch into a double lane, said the source.