CM inspects railway station under construction at Noney
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 29 2009:
THE RAILWAY line from Jiribam to Tupul is unlikely to be readied within 2012 since there is hardly any progress in the construction works.
Despite the state government insisting the Ministry of Railway, Government of India to speed up the works, the Ministry seems to be showing little interest.
Though the railway line covers just a short distance of 96 kms, works for drilling 22 caves and 35 long and short bridges are yet to start.
So far, construction of railway line of only 9.96 km from Jiribam has been completed.
This took more than one year.
Besides, the labourers always have a fear in their minds about the dangers posed by the law and order situation.
In the meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi, along with some of his Cabinet colleagues today went to Noney in Tamenglong district to inspect the progress of the railway station under construction there.
The Chief Minister told the newspersons, who accompanied him on the journey, that though construction of the railway line is targetted to be completed within 2012, it is believed that it will be completed even earlier than that.
Up to now, construction of 9.96 km long railway line has been completed.
He further said that funds for construction of 50 km long railway line has already been sanctioned.
The work for construction of the railway line will soon start from Tupul towards Jiribam as well.
This will accelerate the work, he opined.
The drilling of caves will be done by firms of India, O Ibobi said and added that there are engineering firms in India that can bore tunnels in the mountains.
He assured that adequate security will be provided for those engaged in the construction works for the railway line.
As regards suspending Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong district, Devash Deval, the Chief Minister clarified that the DC was suspended for not distributing the amount of compensation to those land owners affected by the railway line.
Now 50% of the compensation has been paid up, some more are yet to be paid.
The remaining amount will be paid off very soon.
The work progress will be monitored for every three months, he said.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Transport and Education Minister L Jayentakumar, government chief whip T Mangibabu, Tamenglong MLA Khangthaunang Panmei, Chief Engineer and others from the North East Frontier Railways.
Minister Jayentakumar told reporters that the state remains backward in almost all fields.
With a view to alleviate the backwardness, the project for railway line is being taken up.