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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 17 (EMN): Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stones for 13 different highway projects and inaugurated a road safety project of the state through video conference on Monday. The total length of these projects is around 316 kilometres, and the total project cost is around INR 3000 crore.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh presided the virtual function from Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi, which was also attended by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for DoNER and PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh and MoS Road Transport and Highways Gen (Retd) VK Singh besides other officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari announced that the foundation stone for an elevated highway in Imphal city as proposed by the state government would also be laid soon for which DPR is being prepared. The Union Minister said that the Centre has taken up various projects keeping with the prime minister's desire to develop infrastructure in the Northeast.
The minister also informed that dredging has been completed in Brahmputra and Barak rivers, and it is now possible to transport people and consignments through waterways. He also suggested linking Imphal with this river routes. He also called for adopting alternate fuel for public transport in the Northeast as it is cheaper and environment friendly.
Gadkari also highlighted the role of MSME sector in improving the employment and economic scenario in Manipur. Informing about the recent expansion of MSME units, he exhorted the chief minister to consider setting up of Special Designing Centres where quality of local handloom and handicraft products can be improved for export to foreign countries.
In his presidential speech during the virtual event, Chief Minister N Biren Singh thanked Nitin Gadkari for revamping Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Moreh roads.
He further said that Makru and Barak bridges, for which foundation stones were laid under the Union Minister’s guidance, would be completed by the end of this year.
Construction of Imphal-Jiribam highway is also underway though the project was slightly delayed in the beginning due to land compensation issues. Apart from it, construction of Moreh bypass road and Pallel-Chandel road would also start soon, he added. Imphal being a small city is very congested now, as such there is need for an elevated highway, Singh said and added that people of Manipur are thankful to Gadkari for responding positively to the proposal of the 25-km-long Imphal city elevated highway project. He also requested the minister to upgrade the Imphal-Moirang road to a four-lane highway.