Towers ready, night flights set for take off

IMPHAL, Feb 6 : With the completion of fitting Solar Power Obstruction Light (SPOLs) atop three hilltops out of the five designated sites, at long last, night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport is likely to commence from the current month after a trial run on the night of February 9.To facilitate night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport, the State Government has taken up the task of installing SPOL towers on the hilltops of Nongmai-ching (Senapti, Baruni), Phunal Maring (Senapati and Heibok (Imphal West) Chingphu (Bpr district) and Langjing (Imphal West) hillocks.Out of the five designated hilltops where SPOL towers are to be set up, construction works of the security barracks have also been completed at Phunal Maring, Heibok, Chingphu and Langjing. As for Langjing, fitting of the SPOL had already been done sometime earlier as there is no security problem due to location of a CRPF post already there.A team of Government officials comprising Works Minister K Ranjit, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar, IG (Law & Order-I), SP Imphal East, Commandant of 5 IRB and Deputy Director of Transport yesterday went to inspect the progress of the construction work at Phunal Maring, Baruni, Heibok and Chingphu hillocks.After the inspection of the security barracks being constructed at these four hillocks, the Government has also deployed IRB personnel at the security barracks to safeguard and protect the SPOLs.As the construction of the security barrack at Baruni hillock has not yet been completed, security personnel are currently being made to put up in a temporary shed.According to an official source from the Transport Department, all the necessary facilities that should be given to the security personnel have been provided at these security barracks.Along with deployment of adequate security personnel, the engineers of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have also started fitting SPOLs at these four hillocks, the source informed, adding that fitting of the SPOLs is expected to be completed within February 12 and night landing may begin either on February 15 or 16.When The Sangai Express conducted a spot survey of the work site at Heibong hillock today, it was witnessed that adequate security personnel have been deployed and the fitting of the SPOL completed by the engineers of AAI.The engineers of the AAI who were at the work site informed that the fitting of the SPOL at Heibong hillock was completed today and tomorrow the same would be finalised for Phunal Maring hillock.As for Baruni hillock, the SPOL would be fitted only the tower is erected. The engineers further informed, while conveying the instruction of the State Government for finishing the task of fitting SPOLs at the earliest possible so that test landing of aeroplane can be carried out on the night of February 9.The work agency for construction of the security barrack at Heibong hillock has, however, complained against the Government over the undue delay in releasing the required fund.An official of the work agency informed that though the work has been completed and the report of the same submitted, the Government has so far provided only Rs 30 lakhs from out of the total estimated cost of Rs 1 crores for construction of the buildings.The total estimated cost for road cutting work and laying of culverts is Rs 85 lakh, but till date no fund had been provided, the work agency rued.