Imphal, February 23, 2006: Welcoming the Army’s claim of sanitising Parbung and Thanlon sub-divisions of Churachandpur district, the 25 Bn BRTF has exuded confidence of accelerating the road construction works along NH-150 which runs through the sub-divisions.
Road construction/maintenance activities on the 262 kilometre route had been hampered in the last few years owing to concentration of militants in these areas creating law and order problems, informed the CO of the BRTF battalion MA Raza.
It was only last year the task of construction and re-surfacing from the starting point (Churachandpur district Hqs) started and added “we have been able to complete black-topping of the route for about 20 kms while the rest of the work are underway in a fast pace,” asserted the CO.
Exuding confidence of providing the finishing touches to another 60 kms stretch by around April, Raza hoped that the remaining works would proceed smoothly in view of the Army clearing pockets of parbung and Thanlon sub-divisions from militant stranglehold in the last few months.
“So far we have not faced any hurdle from any quarters and we are proceeding with our jobs in a smooth manner,” he said and added the battalion is engaging sufficient manpower and machineries at the work sites.
Elaborating Raza informed that 400 labourers along with 25 staff of the task force including engineers and technicians are working round the clock.
Seven tippers, one excavator, two road-rollers and two stone crushers have also been pressed into service for development of the single-lane highway, he added.
Satisfactory progress are also being made on construction and repairing of national Highway 53, Senapati to Paibung road that connects NH-39, Mahadev to Tolloi in Ukhrul as well as from yainganpokpi to Jessami via Ukhrul, he noted.
Re-surfacing and conducting IP-QP along NH-53 till Barak are progressing at a favourable pace, the CO added.
Work beyond Barak would be handled by the 25 BRTF.
Disclosing of the task force awaiting clearance/release of fund from the Ministry of External Affairs to resume repairing of the 160 kms Tamu-Kaliwa route in Myanmar, Raza expected the Ministry to sanction Rs 38 crores for the purpose.
Repairing works in border areas of the neighbouring country had begun since 2001.
He also informed of BRTF’s preparedness to start road repairing works at Moreh area as soon as the Union home Ministry allocate requisite fund.
Source: The Sangai Express