Imphal, March 29 2010: State Chief Minister, O Ibobi today laid the foundation stone for digging 25-IB tunnel for the Jiribam-Tupul railway line at Noney in Tamenglong district today while inspecting the work progress of the laying of the railway track.

After inspecting the construction work of the railway line, the Chief Minister told reporters that the construction of Jiri-Tupul railway line of which target was 2012 has been extended till 2014, while the railway line from Tupul to Imphal which was earlier targeted to be completed by 2014 has been extended till 2016 .

This is because of so many disturbances that came up in the implementation of the project.

Law and order problems and hindrances in the land acquisition process were cited as behind the resetting of the targeted achievements.

The Chief Minister said that the authority is making hectic efforts to complete the works within the reset targeted period.

However, the Chief Minister urged all the concerned not to hesitate in approaching him in case of any problem while reiterating that he would conduct personal spot inspection of the rail work as far as possible.

Chief Engineer of the Northern Frontier Railway, Mohonlal who accompanied the Chief Minister in the inspection recalled that the construction of Jiribam-Tupul board-gauge railway line was started from 2003-04.The total length of the line was 98 km but it was shorten to 84 km.

There will ne nine stations between Jiribam and Tupul at Jiribam, Bolakhan, Keimai road, Kambiron, Thingu, Molsang, Noney and Tupul.

Construction of 10 out of total 35 tunnels to be made has so been completed and with the completion of survey works, construction works for another five tunnels have started, he said adding there will be 14 large bridge and 73 small bridges within the Jiribam-Tupul railway line.

The longest bridge on this stretch will be that of the bridge across the Maku river which is 500 meter while the longest tunnel will be tunnel at Kambiron which 5.9 km long, he said.

He further said that the 10 km long Jiribam to Dholakhal track lying has already started and targeting to complete by 2011 .

The survey works of 26 km portion of Tupul to Imphal extension railway line has completed but the same for 32 km is yet to start.

So far at least nine tunnels can be expected to construct in this extension portion, Mohonlal added.

Mention may be made that foundation stone for the Imphal-Jiribam rail line was laid by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in November 2004, when he visited the State.

Manipur government is taking keen interest in the construction of rail line as it will go a long way in solving the communication problem in the State.

The Chief Minister said that since the rail line is a National project, there will be no dearth of funds and added that the work is being closely monitored by the Prime Minister's Office.

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