CM hops on tunnel check, project scan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 29 2010: Along with inaugurating the work for drilling the tunnels of the broad gauge rail line to be laid from Jiribam to Tupul under the overall supervision of North East Frontier Railways, Chief Minister O Ibobi allayed apprehension over security arrangement in laying the rail track.

After the chopper which brought him from Kangla, Imphal landed at the helipad of Assam Rifles camp at Noney Bazar today, the Chief Minister participated in performing the rites and rituals of inaugurating drilling of the 25th tunnel through the cliff of Khiangthok, located around 5 kms from Noney Bazar.

He pressed the switch to trigger an explosion and start the work on drilling the tunnel in the presence of officials of North East Frontier Railways who briefed the Chief Minister on the proposed works.

CM O Ibobi Singh inaugurates work for drilling the raliway project's 25th tunnel

MPCC president Gaikhangam, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar and other officials accompanied the Chief Ministers during the visit.

Talking to mediapersons at the site where the tunnel is to be made, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that construction of the railway line from Jiribam to Tupul is being targeted for completion by 2014 and that of the extension from Tupul to Imphal by 2016 .

Informing that the State Government has taken up necessary measures to ensure that there is no problem from what of security in the construction work, the Chief Minister also expressed happiness that many good companies have responded to the tender invitations as the rail project is a Central project and there would no dearth of fund.

According to officials of North Eastern Frontier Railways, the required fund for construction of the railway line from Jiribam to Tupul has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways after it was included in the budget of 2003-04 .

The total length of the railway line which was earlier proposed to be 98 kms has been shortened to 84 kms, they informed.

They further informed that the survey work from Jiribam to Tupul has been completed and the survey work from Tupul to Imphal is being carrying out on war footing.

Of the proposed 84 kms long railway line from Jiribam to Tupul, there would be in all 35 tunnels only in 38 kms.

The work process on drilling 10 tunnels have already been started and the tender process for 5 other tunnels is underway.

There would be in all 10 railway stations along the route from Jiribam to Tupul.

The longest tunnel which is proposed to be 4.9 km long would start from near Kaimai and the longest bridge would be the one which is to be constructed over Barak river, the officials disclosed, adding that so far construction of 18 minor bridges have been completed.

Stating that there may be possibly nine tunnels along the route from Tupul and Imphal for which the survey work is currently being carried out, the railway officials pointed out that in addition to the deplorable condition of the existing roads and bridges and poor communication network, activities of the underground activists do hamper in the ongoing construction work.

So there is the need for security.

They also sought the co-operation of all the people so that task of laying the railway line can be accomplished without any problem.