Newmai News Network Imphal | June 25 The Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) organised a one day media sensitization program on the state of highways in Manipur today at Hotel Classic, Imphal. Officials of the Public Works Department including Chief Engineer Ch. Tiken highlighted the challenges and problems faced by the Public Works Department during construction and maintenance of highways in the State. Delivering the keynote address, Editors' Guild Manipur secretary general Yumnam Rupachandra said that the program will help the media persons understand the workings of the department which will eventually help them when they write a report on the national and state highways of the State. He also stressed the need for media persons to file a balanced report to ensure proper flow of 'right information' to the public. The Chief Engineer said since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, the PWD has not taken up any new road in the State other than those under fully central sponsored schemes. He also highlighted lack of funds as a major issue faced by the department, and at the same time observed that lack of co-ordination between different departments has also led to the deplorable condition of the roads in the State. Additional CE (NH) N. Noren spoke on the condition of National Highways in the State. He said that under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways there are 13 highways in the State. He explained these highways are entrusted to three different agencies including the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, NHIDCL, Border Roads Organisation and the PWD. He said the six highways entrusted to the PWD are National Highway-2 (Mao-to Imphal), NH-202 Imphal-Yaingangpokpi, NH 102 Imphal-Moreh Border Bridge, NH 37 Imphal-Jiribam (only 3.22km from Imphal to Oriental College), NH 137 (A) Imphal to Kakching via Mayang Imphal and 102 (A) Sansad to Tengnoupal. He continued that Imphal-Moreh highway is entrusted to the NHIDCL, however, the PWD has been entrusted with the maintenance of the highway. Additional Chief Engineer (SH) PWD T Rabindrakumar spoke on ‘Condition of State Highways in Manipur.’ He said under the State Highways there are four kinds of roads Major District Roads (582 km approx.), Other District Roads (900 km approx.), Inter-Village Roads (7900 km approx.) and State Highways (750 km approx.). Explaining some of the problems confronting the maintenance of SHs in the State, he said the roads are not wide enough to accommodate the increase in traffic volume in the State. He also said that lack of fund is another major issue in maintenance and construction of roads. An interaction between the officials and media persons was also held as part of the sensitization program.
