IT News
Imphal, Jan 29:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today flagged off the Imphal Ring Road Project at Takyel Khongbal Maning Leikai, Patsoi, Imphal West. The project which will cost around Rs. 1,766 crores will be taken up with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
A formal programme was organised after the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the Ring Road Project.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh maintained that the State Government had been taking up many developmental projects which would improve the living standard of the people, adding that leaders should always work for the welfare of the people at the grassroots.
Stating on the various projects taken up in the State, the Chief Minister informed that the Lamphelpat Waterbody Rejuvenation Project had been taken up with an estimated cost of around Rs. 650 crores. The project includes 300 acres of water body area and around 140 acres for a recreation centre, he added. He further informed on the plan of the Government to connect the recreation centre and the Imphal View Tower at Cheirao Ching through cable car.
N. Biren Singh expressed satisfaction, informing those migratory birds, which were seen earlier, could be seen these days at Lamphelpat after around 109 years.
He also mentioned the initiatives taken up by the Government to clean the Nambul River and transportation of household waste through pipelines to the Sewerage treatment plant. He further raised concern about the environmental degradation through mass deforestation of forest areas and the water scarcity problem that the State could face in future, mentioning the necessity of preserving water bodies.
Mentioning the newly launched scheme “Khungang Ama Sanabung Ama”, the Chief Minister announced to develop the ground at Takyel Khongbal Maning Leikai. He also informed that Oriental College, at Patsoi Assembly Constituency, would be developed with a project costing Rs. 6.40 crores. Apart from this, the college will be covered under the College Fagathansi Mission, to improve its infrastructure with an amount of Rs. 2.5 crore under the scheme, he said.
Further stating on the development plans to be taken up in Patsoi AC, he informed that road development work would be taken up with an estimated cost of Rs. 7.2 crore from the State Budget.
Concluding his speech, N. Biren stated that Manipur has been passing through a rough phase and everyone is bearing the hardship. Assuring that the State Government would protect the State from those vested interest groups who want to disintegrate its unity, he stressed the need for unity among people of the State and sought their support and cooperation.
Giving the keynote address of the Imphal Ring Road Project, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam appreciated Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for the various projects taken up under his initiative, to bring development with sustainable economy, employment generation and others. He continued that the Ring Road Project is one of the dream projects of the Chief Minister.
Speaking on the traffic congestion in Imphal areas and the pollution associated with it, the Minister informed that the plan for Ring Road Project was started in 2015-16, however the project was approved in 2020. He continued that the total distance of the ring road project is 51.23 km. The most interesting part of the project is that it includes a noise pollution control mechanism, which is first of its kind in India and it will be an environmentally friendly road, he added.
He informed that 9.5 km of the road would be of 4 lanes, while 41.5 km would be of 2 lanes with paved shoulders. The road includes an 18 km stretch of green field with solar lamp, footpath and cycle lane. He mentioned that various amenities like food plazas would be set up along the 4-lane stretch road. Within the 4-lane stretch, provision of cycle lanes and jogging lanes would be included in a stretch of 1 km.
The Minister continued that out of the total cost of Rs. 1766 crore, an amount of Rs. 1374.75 crores would be sanctioned by ADB for construction of road and bridges and the remaining amount would be borne by the State and the Central Government for land acquisition and others. 90 percent of the loan amount sanctioned by the ADB would be of grant and the remaining 10 percent (Rs. 137.47 crore) of the loan amount and the interest would be repaid by the Central Government.
He informed that the project would generate 18 lakhs man days direct employment and 13.5 lakhs man days indirect employment. He sought support from the public in the project, adding that the project is targeted to be completed by 2026.
Govindas also mentioned the other dream projects of the Chief Minister which are Rigid Pavement of road in Greater Imphal and Manipur State Road Improvement Programme. He continued that out of the 2044.45 km stretch of road in Greater Imphal, the Central Government has approved for rigid pavement of 547 km stretch of road. The funding for the same would be from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), he added.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also handed over cards to beneficiaries of Chief Minister’s Widow Pension Scheme, Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme, Ujjwala Yojana and Ration Cards.
Ministers Awangbow Newmai, Heikham Dingo, Khashim Vashum, Chairman, Hill Areas Committee Dinganglung Gangmei, Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Senior Government Officials also attended the programme among others.
