IMPHAL, September 12: The Transporters and Drivers’ Council today called a press meet at its MG Avenue office concerning its recent inspection of the National Highway 37 Imphal-Jiribam road.
Speaking to media persons this evening, president H Ranjit said a TDC team led by himself took an inspection trip of the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway on September 8 and returned on September 11 after reaching Jiribam.
The team was also accompanied by 77 trucks loaded with stones, he said.
It may be mentioned here that the TDC president had said in an earlier press briefing that he has information that the Border Roads organization, BRO had asked the state government to stop all vehicular traffic along the NH 37 during September 3-7 so that it could work on the highway.
Further briefing the media persons today, the TDC president said that the condition of the highway has not improved at all and several stretches of the highway are still in deplorable conditions.
The only improvement along the road is the construction of two new bridges at Gularthol and Leingangpokpi. However the government is yet to allow traffic upon the two bridges, he said.
Further elaborating on the condition of the highway, he said that at some stretches the condition is so bad that there is no visible road at all.
He cited the stretch from Leingangpokpi to Makru and said the highway stretch is completely inundated in mud and water.
He continued that since the TDC cannot depend on the BRO for the development of the highway, his team took the stone loaded trucks.
The team unloaded six truck-loads of stone at Makru, he declared.
He further claimed that on the first day of the inspection tour, his team had met a BRO team.
His team left three truck-loads of stone with the BRO after the latter requested them for some to be used in the maintenance of the highway.
He said that the BRO has again requested the TDC today to provide more stones, he however concluded that the council will turn down the request as the BRO failed to provide any official papers.
From the recent inspection and the past activities of the BRO it is clear that the BRO cannot maintain the highway and that the Central Agency is only wasting public money in the name of highway maintenance.
He however concluded that the TDC will not remain dependent on the BRO for the maintenance of the highway and will work on its on to develop and maintain the highway for the people of the state.
He further appealed to the state Works Minister to look into the issue and feel the difficulties faced by the people of the state due to the deplorable condition of the highway.
He further stressed that the best thing would be handing over of the highway works to another capable and result oriented-agency.
Meanwhile coming to the Monitoring Committee formed to monitor the condition of the NH 37, he expressed unhappiness over the workings of the committee.
He continued that the Council will not send its representatives to any more inspection tours of the monitoring committee.
He said the council will inspect the Highway after the committee submits its report to the High Court.