Imphal, October 08: The much awaited crucial meeting to discuss ways and means for development of National Highway 53 was held today at the Prime Minister's office at New Delhi and it was decided that two battalions of Central Forces would be deployed along the National Highway to make it free from anti-social elements, an official source informed.

State Chief Secretary AP Sharma, Resident Commissioner P Sharatchandra, ADGP Y Joykumar, Secretary Works P Kipgen and Chief Engineer of PWD attended the meeting as State Government's representatives.

The meeting was presided over by Secretary of PMO Ashok Saikia.

Joint Secretary of PMO Jamal Singh, Joint Secretary, North East, Union Ministry of Home Affairs Surendrakurpar and Border Road Development Secretary Choudhury were among the Central representatives who took part at the meeting which commenced from 11 am and stretched on till 12.30 pm today.

The official source said, taking into account the proposal put up by the State representatives for the need to improve National Highway 53 in view of frequent occurrences of undesirable activities on National Highway 39, both the parties deliberated upon the various impediments that might hinder the upgradation work along National Highway 53.It was agreed that Border Road Organisation be entrusted to take up the onus of constructing and upgrading the road stretch from Barak to Jiribam and complete the work within the year 2005.However, to facilitate the BRO in undertaking the works the Centre directed the State Government to find solutions for ending the cases pending in the Court which relate to giving compensation to those whose land would be affected by the proposal to make the National Highway a double-lane, the official source said.

The Central team also asked the State Government to bring about an understanding with the people of Tamenglong district who allegedly create problems for laborers while dispensing their duties and in procurement of material for the construction of road.

As for making the National Highway free from anti-social elements it was mutually agreed that two battalions of Central Security Force would be deployed along National Highway-53, the source said, adding that security personnel would be deployed very soon.