Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari is giving wings to India's Act East Policy by flagging 16 National Highway in Manipur – one of India's key gateways to the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations or the ASEAN.
The Manipur projects kickstarted on Monday covers 298 kms fueled by an investment of Rs 4,148 crores.
All northeastern states are central to India's Act East policy focused on connecting the northeast with the ASEAN. Manipur shares a common border with Myanmar and is key for connecting the state with bigger
connectivity projects with southeast Asia.
The projects include improvement/upgradation to four lane highway from Kuraopokpi to Sekmai section of Imphal Kohima Road (NH-39), widening and improvement with paved shoulders from Khongkhang to Lhudengthabi (LHS) 2019-20 & Lokchao (RHS) of Imphal – Moreh section of NH-39, improvement/upgradation to four lane highway from Taphoukuki to Daili section of Imphal-Kohima road (NH-39), two laning with paved shoulder from Keithelmanbi to Kotlen of Imphal to Jiribam Section of NH-37 and widening and improvement with paved shoulders from Khudengthabi (LHS) and Lokchao (RHS) to Moreh Friendship Bridge of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39.
Projects for the two-laning with hard shoulders of Old Tamenglong to near Pheling of Tamenglong Mahur section, from Maram Centre to Maram Duigan of Maram-Peren section of NH 129A, from Maram Duigan to Willing Khullen, from Bendramai to Zuimi and of Maram-Peren section, from Oriental College to Keithelmanbi of Imphal to Jiribam section of NH-37, improvement/upgradation to four lane highway from Daili to Kuraopokpi section of of Imphal Kohima Road (NH-39) and from Sekmai to Nilakuthi section of Imphal-Kohima Road (NH-39) were also launched.
Laying the foundation stone for the projects in Imphal, Gadkari said projects worth Rs 5000 crores have also been sanctioned for the state and the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) will be completed within six months and the work will start in a year's time. He said that expansion of highways in the state will be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase ll.
Emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving highest priority to the northeast and road infrastructure will contribute in development of Manipur and make it socially and economically strong, Gadkari sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders for resolution of problems and completion of projects in a time-bound manner.
