IMPHAL, August 11: Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar along with the PWD officials inspected various works taken up under the state Public Works Department in the four constituencies of Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnu and Mayang Imphal today.
The Minister was also accompanied by Kakching MLA Surchandra and Thoubal DC, T Ranjit.
The PWD officials who were accompanying the Minister included Chief Engineer M Lokendro, Additional Chief Engineer Kh Temba and Superintendent Engineer N Noren.
During the inspection tour, the road widening works at Sengrong and Langmeidong were inspected by the Minister and his team. They later visited Uyok Garden at Kakching Mahadeva Ching.
The Minister further inspected roads from Wabagai Lamkhai Sugnu Road to Sanjenbam Mahadev. The Mayai Lambi (state Highway No 1) was also inspected so that it can be upgraded to be use as an alternative road for National Highway 2.
The retaining walls of the River at Mayang-Imphal were also inspected during the said tour.
Speaking to the media after the inspection tour, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar said that the inspection tour was conducted with an objective to develop National Highway-2 (Imphal-Moreh Road).
A joint review meeting of the Chief Ministers and the PWD Ministers of the North East states was held at Guwahati recently, he said.
During the meeting, a memorandum was submitted to the Roads and Transport Minister Oscar Fernandez with a demand to reconstruct the state Highway Number 1, from Imphal to Kakching Lamkhai (Mayai Lambi) Road up to the standard of a National Highway so that it can be used as the bypass road for National Highway-2, he said while adding that today’s inspection was conducted along with the officials of the PWD and settlement department.
The Minister further said that during today’s tour, the team had surveyed for the required area of land which needs to be acquired for widening of the said roads. 30 meters wide on both sides of the road will be acquired in the build-up areas while 45 meters in the non build-up areas, he said.
He said he has instructed the officials of PWD and Settlement department to take up their works at the earliest.
He further continued that considering the proposal raised by Kakching MLA Surchandra to construct a bypass road leading to the tourist spot, Uyok Garden at Kakching Mahadeva Hill, the team had conducted an inspection during the said tour.
He further said that the team also inspected the road condition of Hiyanglam which was constructed under the SPA proposed project, 2012-2013 and added that the team also inspected the road condition from Kakching Lamkhai to Sanjenbam Mahadev which was developed in the year 2011 and 2012 and instructed the engineers to properly maintain the said roads.
Regarding the widening of the state Highway Number 1, the Minister said he had a meeting with the people of the Sekmaijing area during his inspection tour. He appealed the people for cooperation and the people of Sekmaijing area gave their assurances that they will extend their cooperation to the government.
On his way back to Imphal, the Minister also visited the EE office of the PWD Southeast Division 2 at Mayang Imphal Bazaar, which is presently not functioning properly due to the bad law and order situation of the state.
The Minister gave his assurance that there will be development in the office and the EE of the SE Division 2 who is presently stationed at PWD Head office, Imphal will be stationed at the said office.