Imphal, June 15 2009: Changing its earlier plan of making a by-pass for NH39 to skirt Imphal city in Imphal East district starting from Sekmai and terminating at Lilong, the State Government is considering to make the by-pass in Imphal West district.

The plan for a by-pass to skirt NH-39 is necessitated considering the prospect of upgrading the same highway to a trans-Asian highway.

With the rail-head likely to be located at Nambol area, construction of highway in Imphal East district is likely to lead to more traffic snarls and inconveniences rather than easing it.

As such, the Government has been studying whether it would not be more convenient to construct the same by-pass in Imphal West district, conveyed an official source.

Way back in 1987, the State Government planned a by-pass to skirt Imphal city in Imphal East district.

According to the previous plan, NH-39 would branch out at Khonghampat to make the by-pass which would pass through Lamdeng, Langol foothills, Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba, Langjing, Toubungkhok and Mongshangei before connecting with NH-39 at Canchipur.

Engineers are of the opinion that it would be more convenient to construct the by-pass in Imphal West district as it would have connectivity to NH-39, NH-53 and NH-150 within the district.

Observing that vast tracts of agricultural land would be lost in case the by-pass is constructed through Imphal East district, the official source informed that loss of agricultural land can be significantly reduced if the same by-pass is constructed through Imphal West district as there are several inter-village roads already in the district.

The project for Imphal by-pass conceived in 1987 was approved by the relevant Union Ministry.

The State Government too prepared the requisite budget and submitted it to the Union Ministry.

Though field survey for the 19.2 kms long by-pass is already finalised, it is now estimated that length of the same by-pass may be increased to 25 kms as it would need re-alignment in some sections due to expansion of Imphal airport and Manipur University.

The Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways has also suggested the State Government to construct the proposed by-pass through Imphal West district rather than through Imphal East district, conveyed the source.

PWD engineers headed by the Works Minister would be leaving for New Delhi soon to seek sanction from the Union Ministry.

Notably, the Union Ministry had already approved the State Government's proposal to construct the Imphal by-pass so as to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

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