IMPHAL, January 20: Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar today assured the repair or reconstruct of all bridges in the State which are old so as to improve connectivity.
Acknowledging that many of the bridges in the State are old and need repairing or complete reconstruction especially the suspension bridges, he said the government is unable to repair or construct all of them simultaneously, but it will be done phase wise.
The minister was speaking after inaugurating the Keirao Litan Makhong Bridge at Keirao Makting Litan Makhong, Imphal East.
The function was organised by the Public Works Department.
In his speech, Ratankumar acknowledged that the completion of the bridge has been delayed from the actual target.
Due to the limited funds available with the PWD for repairing of bridges, he said MLA Local Area Development Funds were also used in the construction of the bridge.
Observing that under the leadership of the State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh Manipur has developed many fold, he added the State still developing.
The State government is also putting efforts to upgrade the road connectivity in the State, he added.
Elaborating further he said highways like the Imphal-Moreh, Imphal-Dimapur, Imphal-Jiribam, Imphal-Ukhrul and Mayang Imphal-Bishnupur will soon have alternative routes or will be upgraded soon.
He said the Imphal-Jiribam highway which is one of the most deplorable roads in the State will be upgraded soon, for which land acquisition in the area of Barak and Makru is under process.
In order to fast-track development in the State, the government is in the process of constituting working groups in all constituencies including the local MLAs, he added.
Further stressing on the importance of road connectivity, the minister said 16 roads in different places of the State will soon be constructed under funding of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.
The Chief Minister who also holds the Finance portfolio has also approved construction of the Haotabi-Kyamgei Bridge at the estimated cost of Rs 4.9 crores, and construction will start by February with a target to complete it by year-end, he said.
The bridge inauguration function was also attended by Keirao MLA Karam Thamarjit Singh and PWD chief engineer M Loken Singh as president and guest of honour respectively.