GUWAHATI, Nov 19 ? Manipur is all set to get practical and real railway connection as the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the new line from Jiribam to Tupul near Imphal on November 20. Though Manipur is officially connected by the rail network, the last station Jiribam is located just 1.50 kilometres inside the inter-state border and the State will get proper rail connectivity only after the completion of the new line.
The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the North East Frontier Railway, T Rabha told The Assam Tribune that the foundation stone laying ceremony would be attended among others by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Manipur Governor SS Sidhu, Minister in charge of the DONER PR Kyndiah , Union Ministers Santosh Mohan Dev, BK Handique, two Ministers of State for Railways, Manipur Chief Minister and others.
Giving details of the project, Rabha said that the total length of the new BG line would be around 98 kilometres and it would take 72 months to complete the same. The completion time is long because of the terrain as 13 tunnels and 322 bridges and culverts would have to be constructed along route.
He revealed that Tupul is about 25 kilometres short of greater Imphal and the new station would be named Imphal Road station. He said that the terrain from Tupul to Imphal town is even more treacherous to handle and the Railways would consider extending the line at a later stage. The line will cross through two districts of Manipur- Tamenglong and Imphal East.
Commenting on the benefits of the new line, Rabha said that the line would improve connectivity to Manipur. He pointed out that at present, all the essential commodities are brought to Manipur by road and road blockade due to natural or other reasons totally cut off the state.
But with the construction of the new line, the problem of movement of essential commodities to the State would be eased out to a great extent. Moreover, after the completion of the new line, the people of Manipur would be able to reach Silchar easily without depending only on the road network.
Rabha further revealed that way back in 1997-98, the Railways prepared a project to connect Manipur by constructing a line from Diphu to Karong via Nagaland, but the project was later abandoned because the terrain through which the line was to go was considered unsafe and the State Government also advised the Railways not to go ahead with the project.