Imphal, August 20: The 36 BRTF, which has been looking after almost half the total length of NH-53 from Jiribam to Barak stretch, would be submitting a detailed project report to the Centre for construction of the route at an estimated cost of Rs 8.8 crores.

The move came close on the heels of Union Home Secretary VK Duggal announcing sanctioning of Rs 7/8 crores for strengthening the NH-53 during a press conference at Raj Bhavan on August 17.'The total estimated cost for such road construction under Puspak Project would be Rs 8.8 crores and the project report would be send to the BRO authorities at New Delhi on Friday next for doing the needful' KYK Mahindra Kar, Chief Engineer of the Task Force under Puspak Project informed The Sangai Express.

The BRO authorities would be forwarding the same report to either the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Road Transport, the CE, who sits at Aizawl added.

It is informed that the amount is meant for maintaining the bridges and construction of double lane along the route and not for converting the Bailey and Hamilton bridges to RCC type bridges.

Commandant of 36 BTRF informed that widening and jungle cutting is underway in full swing along the route for black-topping the same.

Mention may be made here that the Union Home Secretary, who made an aerial survey of the NH-39 on his Imphal trip, had also stated that the daily maintenance of the route would be carried out by the BRTF.