Manipur Works Minister K Govindas on Monday informed the House that upgrading of the historic Old Cachar Road (Tongjei Maril) and six other roads to National Highway status has been approved in principle by the Central government though final order is yet to be published by the MoRTH.
He was responding to a starred question raised by MLA, Tamenglong assembly constituency Janghemlung Panmei during the question hour of the ongoing 3rd session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Raising the starred question, Janghemlung asked the minister concerned through the assembly floor whether there are any plans for the development of the historic Tongjei Maril (Old Cachar road) and whether there are any plans of the government to upgrade it.
Responding to the starred question, Works Minister K Govindas informed the House that the government is taking necessary steps for upgradation of Tongjei Maril road into the status of a national highway.
He informed that on August 17, 2018, the Central government had already approved in principle for upgradation of seven roads into National Highway status and Tongjei Maril road is also included among the seven roads.
Govindas further informed that the construction of Tongjei Maril has already been completed in 2021 under the fundings by ADB and NESRIP.
However, after Irang Bridge collapsed in July 2022, most of the heavy goods trucks had to be diverted along Old Cachar Road. The road became damaged due to over capacity of traffic, and the Central government gave the project to NHIDCL for maintenance of the said road.
He maintained that the seven roads including Old Cachar road will be upgraded into the status of a national highway, and the state government is also taking initiatives to speed up the work.
In another starred question, Janghemlung also sought information on the current status of the ADB funded Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong (IKT) road from the Works minister.
Responding to the starred question, K Govindas informed the House that the project is under progress with physical progress of 78 per cent and financial progress of 72.60 per cent as on January 31 this year. The loan closing date of the project is June 30 this year, he added.
He further said that Tamenglong district was one of the most backward districts at one time and various developmental projects were already given for the district for the said reason.
“However, the road construction of IKT road has been delayed due to obstructions from some goons which work like a ‘syndicate group of land compensation’,” he said. He assured the House that a meeting will be held with the government along with village authorities of the area to solve the issue so that the road construction can be completed at the earliest.
