Imphal, January 24: The Border Road Organisation (BRO) has not yet taken up the task of repairing National Highway 150 despite the presence of Central security forces that it had demanded earlier for taking up the task.

According to a reliable source, although BRO has been entrusted to repair National Highway 150 since 2000, the work was delayed for security reasons.

BRO had demanded three battalions of security force.

But despite the presence of many battalions of Central security forces in Churachandpur district which have been deployed there to flush out militants since last year, BRO is still hesitating to put its act together and start repairing the road, the source said.

In the last meeting held on November 29, 2004, it was decided to start the work of repairing 40 km stretch of National Highway 150 on Tipaimukh side in Churachandpur district.

In the same meeting, BRO had requested for deployment of adequate forces along the said road stretch where the work was to be taken up.

According to the source, adequate Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and State forces are presently deployed in Churachandpur district and there is no threat from any insurgents with the ongoing counter insurgency operation at its height.

In such a situation, the BRO can take up the road repairing work without any fear.

As the BRO has been delaying the repair work of National Highway 150 since 2000, it has hampered the development of the said Highway, the source said, adding that repairing/improving the condition of the road would facilitate connectivity between Manipur and Mizoram.

The source further informed that BRO is also yet to taken up the repair work of National Highway 53 stretch from Barak to Jiribam (76 kms) citing security reasons.

Although the authority of the 36 BRTF with its headquarters at Silchar has requested the Government to provide adequate security cover, the same has not been complied till date today either by the State Government or the Centre, the source added.

Among the works entrusted to BRO, there has been no report of any progress made with exception to repairing of the road stretch from Tamenglong to Khongsang (40 kms), Mahadeva-Tolloi to Pfutsero (180 kms) and Bishnupur to Nungba from Rengpang (50 kms), the source disclosed.

In view of the slow progress, State Government has requested the Centre for giving instruction to the BRO to take up the work soon and ensure its completion before the onset of rainy season.

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