Behiang finally gets to see way to connect with the world

IMPHAL, Feb 8 : Inaugurating the Ngashon bridge on the road connecting Chura-chandpur to Behiang village on the Indo-Myanmar border on February 7, Works Minister K Ranjit has announced that the road, which is a State Highway, will soon be upgraded to the status of a National Highway while warning eight contractors to finish the works allotted to them by March 31 or else they would be nailed and black listed. Ngashon bridge which collapsed and killed 20 people while a Shaktiman filled with passengers and charcoal was crossing it on January 17 last year was built anew and the Works Minister dedicated it to the people of the area during the inaugural function held yesterday. Addressing the gathering, Ranjit said that the Churachandpur-Behiang road, which passes through Singnat and is being built as a State Highway will be upgraded to a National Highway, with the Union Ministry of Shipping and Surface Transport giving the green signal. The result of the work on the Behiang to Singnat road is beginning to show and from a road that measured just 12.5 feet on the Behiang to border pillar number 70 it has now transformed to a 34 feet wide road. When pointed out by the president of the Zou Youth Organisation that though the road has seen immense improvement, there is still the apprehension that it may not be motorable once the Monsoon sets in, the Minister waved away the apprehension with the assurance that shingling work on the road will be finalised before the rain comes. Explaining the stand of the Government, the Works Minister said that since the road is to be upgraded to a National Highway they have deemed it better to first widen the road rather than just black topping the narrow road. Ranjit added that in the first phase involves widening the road, constructing the road side drains, constructing culverts and shingling the road. The road will be allowed to settle down first for the first and second year, said Ranjit and added that once the earth becomes firm, black topping process will be taken up. It will be upgraded to the quality of the Imphal to Moreh road, assured the Works Minister. The Works Minister was however livid with rage when he saw that a stretch, divided into 10 zones, on the 32 km long road between Singnat and Churachandpur, which is to be black topped in two layers with WBM, was lagging behind with only one layer being laid. Not mincing any word the Minister said that if the work is not completed by March 31 this year then all the contractors involved will be black listed and nailed.The contractors include Chingzakhup and H Mon (two zones), Y Sunil, T Ibohal, Ph Adim (two zones) and Lunset Kipgen, Kaos Baite and Kh Joykishan. Claiming that the work was supposed to have been finalised in December last year, the Minister said that taking the situation in Manipur into account, the contractors would be given time till March 31 to finish their assignments. Striking a tough pose, the Minister said that such developmental works are being taken up to ensure equal development between the hills and valley and any misdemeanour by the contractors and Engi-neers will not be tolerated. He also assured that he would conduct frequent on the spot verification. The Minister also drove upto pillar number 70 on the Indo-Myanmar border to inspect the road work. Inspecting the work, the Minister instructed that the road side drains being constructed be made deeper.The Minister paid homage to the 20 people who were killed when the Ngashong bridge collapsed on January 17 last year and led the gathering in offering floral tributes to their memorial sites. The bridge was built by contractor S Kaineipao at the cost of Rs 66 lakhs sanctioned under the SPA. Another Rs 6 lakhs has also been sanctioned for constructing a bridge over the Tuivai river. The Minister acknowledged the contractor for finishing the bridge on time, despite the fact that the sanctioned amount is yet to be released. Singnat MLA Hangkhanpau and Special Contractor Haopu who attended the function as guest of honour and functional president extended their gratitude to the Works Minister for expediting the work process of building the road and urged the people to extend their co-operation to the Government in its effort to maintain the newly inaugurated bridge. A number of villagers turned up to receive the Minister and his team to express their gratitude for the road.