IMPHAL, December 16: The Transporters and Drivers Council, TDC has drawn the State Chief Minister`™s attention to look into the condition of the National Highway no 37, highlighting that there has been no actual progress in the road condition even though the Border Roads Organisation has been tasked to handle the road improvement work.
The council`™s president H Ranjit told media persons today that the TDC is ready to take on the road improvement work if the BRO is unable to complete it soon.
He said the worst part is between Barak and Makru bridges.
Ranjit demanded the government to remove the BRO and replace it with another work agency.
The TDC, he said has been contributing in improving the road condition of the highway since 2010 and has helped in making it motorable.
He said the Imphal-Jiribam highway is a major lifeline of the State and the council had often times appealed to all concerned against involving politics in the road improvement works.
The TDC had replaced the wooden planks of the Makru Bridge in the past, however, since it has not been repaired for long the bridge is once again in a terrible condition. The planks are tightened with binding wires and the bridge is getting riskier by the day for the loaded trucks to cross it.
He continued that the council has already bought wooden planks to be used on the Barak Bridge.
He further charged the BRO of misappropriating the funds sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway Government of India.
The concerned Union Minister has already physically inspected the highway and the State government has also conducted surveys on two counts, however there is not much improvement in the road condition, he said.
He continued that even though the BRO had assured to complete the road repairing by March 2014, it is far from complete till date.
The BRO has been only claiming the fund constraint for the delay in the work, he said.