IMPHAL, February 10: Asserting that good transport condition facilitates economy of any State besides bringing people closer, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh maintained that improving transport and communication is one of the top priorities of the government.
The CM was speaking at inauguration of a newly built Pallel Bridge along Imphal-Moreh Road adjoining Thoubal and Chandel district today.
The bridge was constructed by Public Works Department (PWD) under the funding of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways at an estimated cost of Rs 8.87 crores.
Attending as chief guest at the inaugural function, Ibobi envisaged that Jiri-Tupul-Imphal railway line will reach Tupul by the end of December this year.
He observed that there will be considerable change in price of essential commodities after the completion of the railway line.
The railway line will also boost economy of the State, he said.
Stating that surface transport is of paramount importance for the State, the CM said that the Pallel Bridge is an important bridge as it is strategically located along the National Highway connecting India and south-east Asian countries.
He appealed to the people to extend cooperation to the development works taken up by the government.
Ibobi assured that the government will look into opening of a government high school at Pallel, expansion of Pallel Bazar and construction of PHC in the area.
Presiding over the function, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh said that the bridge could not be inaugurated on November 15, 2014 though the construction was completed as there was hectic preparation for ADC election, completion of Express Road and Municipal Council election at that time.
He further said that the Pallel Bridge is not simply an inter-district bridge instead the bridge being strategically located will act as catalyst between south-east Asian countries.
The bridge will also play an important role in the changing surface connectivity globally, the Minister asserted.
Besides MLAs Y Surchandra Singh and DK Korungthang who attended the inaugural function as guests of honour, Chief Engineer of PWD; DC; SP Thoubal and several top engineers were also present at the occasion.
It may be mentioned that the Pallel Bridge measured 72 meters in length and 12 meters in breadth with footpath measuring 2.25 meters on its both sides.
The construction of the bridge was started from 1999 after the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways sanctioned an amount of Rs 3.18 crores in 1997 as first instalment.
After revising simultaneously, the construction work of the bridge was entrusted to a new contractor in 2009 with a sanctioned amount of Rs 8.87 crores.