Poorly executed concrete road poses risk to all

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 14 : Left abandoned, neglected without any far sightedness, the cement concrete road project which is envisioned as a transformative infrastructure initiative has become a significant burden in Imphal East.
The Manipur Urban Road, Drainage and Asset Management & Improvement Project is being executed by Public Works Department (Externally Aided Project) as  the implementing agency under the funding of Asian Infrastructure Development Bank (AIDB) to convert old asphalt roads to durable concrete roads
However, instead of fulfilling its lofty goals, the project has been left incomplete and in utter disarray, now turning into a serious nuisance that causes more harm than good.
Among the many projects undertaken by the Government, the cement concrete road project is being touted as a game-changer in infrastructure development, but with no progress visible at sight, people are now questioning whether the promises made of safer road connectivity will ever come to fruition.
Under Package II of the project, the Government aims to construct concrete roads with rigid pavements across Imphal East district, covering a distance of 141.032 Km.
As part of the joint venture of BSCPL and KSIPL, construction of the rigid pavement began from Kongba, near the Meitei Mayek High School crossing to Wangkhei Puja Lampak sometime back.
However, the work has since come to a standstill, with no progress made since the past over three months.
Moreover, the poor construction of the rigid pavement and the incomplete concrete line drains pose serious risks to commuters, especially at night.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, some shopkeepers operating near Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak expressed serious concerns about the dangers arising from the execution of the project.
They reported several incidents where individuals have fallen into open pits left for the construction of concrete-lined drains or have suffered other accidents, particularly at night.
Additionally, they pointed out that many people have been injured after losing balance along the route, as the rigid pavement is narrower than the original road width and elevated, creating hazardous unevenness.
The rigid pavement is six inches higher than the original road surface.
Moreover, there are no warning signs along the route even though the project remains incomplete, they said, urging the relevant authorities to look into the matter.
They also said that parking vehicles on the narrow road often leads to traffic congestion. Commuters wouldn't have to face such inconvenience had the Government placed earth or stones beside the rigid pavement to create some uniformity and evenness in the newly constructed road and its surrounding areas, the locals said.
They also mentioned that the lack of streetlamps along the route has put commuters in danger at night and added that they have no idea when the project will resume as all machinery used in the road project have been removed. The implementing agency had told locals the project would resume after the Sangai Festival, but so far, no action has been taken, they said and urged the relevant authorities to look into the matter and do the needful at the earliest for the sake of the people.