JIRIBAM (MANIPUR),Nov 20 ? Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today ceremonially laid the foundation stone of Rs 726.56 crore 97.90 km long Jiribam-Imphal Road (Tupul) new railwayline project at Jiribam in Manipur ,45 km from Silchar.
Dr Singh in his address said that the long cherished dream of the people of Manipur has been fulfilled after the starting of this railway link work in the state.Dr Singh expressed concern over the backward communication network of the state .
He said that the Manipur has all the resources and potentialities but the state is dependent on only two NHs,which are disrupted frequently due to many reasons. He assured that within the next 3-4 months,Manipur will see the flow of development as the center is contemplating to start some packages and the priority will be given to education, health and unemployment .
He praised the people of Manipur for their rich cultural heritage but lamented that some evil forces are trying to disrupt the peace in Manipur by demoralising the youth forces. He urged the derailed youths to come in the mainstream and assured that they will properly be rehabilitated if they shun the path of violence.He stressed the need of economic development for prevailing peace in Manipur.
Speaking on the occasion, Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav said that the center has taken many new projects to connect all the Northeastern states. He said that survey work in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Kohima for introducing rail services is going on and said that the construction works of two new schemes ? Dudnoi-Dipa and New Haramati-Itanagar will soon be started and the work is going on in Moinaguri-Jogigopa,Lumding-Silchar, Kumarghat-Agartala,New Jalpaiguri-New Bongaigaon and Katakhal-Bairabi.
Manipur Governor SS Sidhu while speaking on the occasion termed it a ? red letter day for Manipur state?. Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Raiways minister of state R Velu and Union Minister of state for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Santosh Mohan Dev also spoke on the occasion.
It may be mentioned here that despite the Manipur bandh call given by the banned Revolutionary People?s Front (RPF) demanding the withdrawal of Assam Rifles, the meeting of PM passed off peacefully .About 1000 people attended meeting which was held at the Railway station of Jiribam in Imphal East district. Unprecedented security measures were taken by the Assam Rifles.Army ,CRPF and state police in view of the meeting and protest.
A Correspondent from Imphal adds: This rail line is being connected to Tamu, the capital of Sangaing division of North Western Myanmar via Moreh, India?s gateway to the South East Asian countries by 2020 for which $ 403 millions are required. Kalemyo about 122 kms from Tamu is being connected with rail line from Mandalay, second largest city in Myanmar.
From Jiribam to Imphal, there will be seven railway stations, 287 minor bridges, 35 major bridges, 13 tunnels, 21 road crossing, and 1 road over bridge and 3 road under bridges. The length of railway tract is 97.90 kms. The project section Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) traverses through the district of Imphal East (Jiribam sub-division) for a length of about 18.50km and remaining 79.40 km falls in Tamenglong district of Manipur bordering Nagaland and Assam.
It is proposed to terminate the line at Tupul, a small township by the side of NH-53, which is about 25 kms short of Greater Imphal in view of the very steep terrain thereafter. In fact, Imphal town is situated at an altitude of 790 m above mean sea level whereas the altitude at Jiribam is 40m above MSL.
Before reaching Imphal from Tupul (altitude 425m) there exist high hill ranges with altitude varying from 1300m to 1500m. So, it is not feasible to extend the proposed alignment beyond Tupul to connect Imphal town. However, Tupul is well connected to Imphal by road system. Imphal is not connected with the rail head at present though Jiribam has been included in the railway map of the country since 1990.