Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 22 2009:
Failure of utilising the fund sanctioned by the Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways in time has been at the root cause of the present deplorable condition of National Highway 39 .
According to an official source from the Works Department, the Ministry had sanctioned the required fund for development of the National Highway 39 consecutively in 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 .
However, due to the law and order situation and frequent undue interference from UGs, the proposed works could not be implemented in time.
The fund sanctioned by the Ministry in 2001-2002 was supposed to be utilised within five years for receiving the second instalment of the fund.
But the work could not be started even after the stipulated five years due to undue interference from UGs, the source added.
When a media team conducted an inspection tour of the National Highway 39 till Mao, it is found that present condition of the National Highway belied its status.
From Keithelmanbi to Kangpokpi, the condition of the road is very bad.
Though the Works Department of the State Government has taken over the responsibility of improving the National Highway stretch from North AOC to Maram, the overall condition of the road from Senapati to Mao needs urgent attention.
Although there are some black-topped portions in between Senapati and Maram, most stretch of the road are not black-topped.
Even if repairing of the 23.80 km long road stretch Maram Centre to Mao which had been entrusted to the BRO in 1976 was completed finally in March this year, most portion of the road needs to be repaired again.
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The black-topping from Maram to Tadubi may be new, the portion of the road near Tadubi Village No.III including a newly constructed retaining wall have caved in already.
On the way from Tadubi to Imphal, around 200 ft along portion of the road include a retaining all at Makhan have been caved in.
Though hectic activities on repairing from Tadubi to Mao was seen, condition of the road stretch cannot be still be called an improved one.
The road stretch which was under responsibility of BRO for 33 years is wanting improvement at many points.
Efforts to contact the BRO officials in this connection drew blank.
An official of the Works Department disclosed to The Sangai Express that an estimate for repairing the National Highway 39 had been submitted to the Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways in 2006 .
But the Ministry did not sanctioned any fund on the ground that the task for maintenance of the National Highways has been entrusted to the BRO.
The Ministry also stopped further funding for 2003-2004 .
After taking over the task from the BRO, the Ministry finally sanctioned a sum of Rs 2.67 crore for the rehabilitation of the road stretch from Senapati to Maram.
The sanctioned fund, however, did not have any provision for black topping.
The amount had been utilised in construction of drainage sidebund, filling up potholes and laying one layer of WBM at different spots.
Subsequently, the Ministry has sanctioned another Rs 39.20 crores.
This time there is provision for black-topping.
To begin the work, the Ministry has invited pre-qualification tender.
But none of the contractors in the State have qualified for the tender, the official added.