By IFP Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 8: The first of its kind pilot project for the construction of 400 meters PCC concrete road at Khonglo on Sorde-Kasong road along with construction of 350 meters retaining wall, taken up by the 12 Assam Rifles has been completed in a record time despite all odds.
The said two projects commenced on April 5 and were completed within two months time and handed over to the district administration.
While briefing about the project to mediapersons the post commander Captain K. Ranjith said that the pilot project was taken up by the 12 AR of HQ 10 sector considering the hardship faced by the local populace. He maintained that the Phungyar sub-division is located in southern part of Ukhrul district with very less facilities of communication and transport. The area is very rugged and inhospitable which makes any kind of movement, not only for security forces but also for local public very difficult. There is only one road existing from Shangshak to Kasong and further towards Kashom and beyond (towards Imphal) for movement. Torrential rains and inclement weather coupled with large number of landslides in the area has resulted in the road condition deteriorating badly during monsoons.
The State Planning department sanctioned the project-I for construction of 400 meters PCC road with lined drain and two RCC culverts at an estimated cost of Rs. 25.50 lakhs. The project-II was for construction of 350 meters retaining wall at an estimated cost of Rs.16.85 lakhs. A project Management Group was constituted to monitor the quality of construction and for periodic checks. The project was completed in a very good time frame of five months, despites the adverse conditions like monsoon, remote location and non-availability of labor and construction material due to the economic blockade.
The post commander said that the construction of concrete road with retaining wall in such a remote location will go a long way is ensuring overall development of the interior villages close to the international border with Myanmar. Further he claimed that the road has attracted lot of enthusiasm of the local populace and the various social organizations who have taken this as a positive step to ensure development in the hill districts. The project will work as a model project for construction of future concrete roads in hill district which have been neglected for a long period of time.
