Imphal, January 14 2010: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is not interested in the Singhat-Singjol Road also known as Guite Road.

The State Government has no qualms in handing over development work of the road to BRO but the latter has been declining to take over the task.

On the concluding day of the ongoing Assembly session today, MLAs T Hangkhanpao and V Hangkhalian sought attention of the Works Minister regarding the failure of the Government to repair Guite Road and C Tuivel bridge.

Responding to the call attention motion, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that PWD started repairing work of Guite Road from 2005 after NEC sanctioned around Rs 80 crores.

So far, around Rs 30 crores have been expended.

Pointing out that around Rs 50 crores are still remaining, the Chief Minister stated that the road development work would be handed over to the BRO immediately if the latter agrees to it.

Generally, the detailed project report prepared by PWD would not be accepted by BRO.

They would prepare their own detail project report and seek approval of the Ministry of Defence.

Only then, BRO would agree to take over the repairing work of Guite Road, Ibobi said.

It would be technically difficult to hand over the road to BRO as they would not accept the old rate used by PWD.

BRO has become outdated; only functioning as an avenue for generating employment, working in interior areas, the Chief Minister remarked.

Suggesting that a meeting may be held with BRO officials in the presence of the two MLAs who raised the call attention motion, student leaders and NGOs, Ibobi assured that the road would be handed over to BRO if they are willing to take over the road development work.

Works Minister K Ranjit said that following specific instruction to the contractor concerned, black topping work has been completed on Churachandpur-Singhat section of the road.

In accordance with the wish of the people, a Cabinet meeting was held in September last year where it was decided to hand over the road development work to BRO.

But the BRO declined the offer citing lack of manpower and demanding dedicated security cover.

Moreover, work for about Rs 50 crores was already under progress in addition to the NEC fund lying not completely utilised.

Because of all these factors, BRO would not be interested to take over Guite Road, Ranjit said.

There is no question of the State Government neglecting Guite Road.

The road shall be handed over to BRO after utilising the remaining Rs 50 crores.

He also appealed to all concerned to lift the prohibition being imposed against the road development work.

File process for construction of C Tuivel bridge has reached the tender committee, the Works Minister added.

Earlier, raising the call attention motion, T Hangkhanpao and V Hangkhalian recalled that protest demonstrations have been staged by different communities of Churachandpur demanding repair of Guite Road.

C Tuivel bridge is on the verge of losing two pillars.

Saying that the road is in a risky condition, the two MLAs urged that repairing work of the road be handed over to BRO.

BRO initiated development work of Guite Road in 1981-82 but the repairing work had to be suspended following ethnic violence.

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