IMPHAL, June 28: Repairing work for one of the lifelines of Manipur, National Highway-37 was announced as included in their 100 days action plan by the new NDA government, promising to make it into an all-season road said the Janata Dal (U) president, Moirangthem Tombi.
Speaking to media in a press meet held in its office at Babupara this afternoon, he said that the 225 Km long NH-37 since the last four decades, both the central and state government have failed to take any initiative.
All this while they have been making empty promises, he alleged. The hanging bridge over the Barak River along the NH was constructed in 1971.
He urged that the bridge should be upgraded into a RCC bridge, along with Maku and Irang Bridges.
He alleged the works being taken up by BRO since last 40 years is for namesake. They cannot complete any mission. How just 12 labourers can work along the stretch of 200km, he asked. He charged the BRO that they are playing delaying tactics, waiting for money.
He said that the present road condition is so worse that truck wheels move almost submerged under the mud, adding thatin Nungdalal area is the worst with full of muds. The truckers plying along this NH have been suffering a lot; beside the UG outfits have been collecting illegal taxes along the highway, Tombi said.
Each truck has to spend at least 11 to 15 thousand rupees every month, if the taxes are not paid the drivers of the trucks are either assaulted or kidnapped for ransom, for this there is urgent need of highway protection force, Tombi added.
He further appealed to the various UGs groups to stop such illegal taxes extortion from the trucks of Manipur.