Joint highway monitoring committee in 'pipeline'
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 30: A joint monitoring committee consisting of members of Drivers' Union, Police and NHIDCL may be formed soon to oversee highways development works, said Transporters and Drivers Council's vice president Kh Ibotombi today.
He announced this to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
The TDC vice president also informed that the Drivers' Union has decided to roll back the hands-off-steering wheel stir, which was scheduled to start from July 1, after considering assurance given by the Chief Minister to repair the NH-37.
While the Drivers' Union has called off its proposed stir, vehicular movement on NH-37 has been halted after a landslide between Awangkhul and Rangkhong deposited debris on a portion of the stretch. Vehicle movement may resume after the debris is cleared, said sources.
Notably, the meeting today with the Chief Minister came a day after an earlier meeting between representatives of the Drivers' Union and Commissioner (Home) failed to reach an agreement. The Drivers' Union had then stated that it would launch its proposed stir from July 1 unless positive steps are taken by the Government to repair damaged sections of NH-37.
In the meeting today, the drivers' fraternity was represented by TDC vice president Kh Ibotombi, general secretary Radhamohon Sharma, Drivers' Union general secretary Maimom Anil Meitei and the union's treasurer Kangjam Deepu Kumar.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the Government side which included Commissioner (Home) Ashok Kumar, IGP Zone III and in-charge of National Highway Kamei Angam Romanus and officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Kh Ibotombi said the Drivers' Union's proposed stir has been called off after carefully considering the Chief Minister's assurance to repair the road and the impact the stir would have on the public at this critical movement when there is not much movement of goods into Manipur.
During the meeting, the NHIDCL officials sought some time to repair the road, but the request was refused, Ibotombi said.
The NHIDCL officials were asked to take up the repair work on a war footing, he said.
On the instruction of the Chief Minister, a joint committee consisting of members of the Drivers' Union, Government officials, IGP in-charge of Highway and NHIDCL may soon be formed to oversee works on the highways, Ibotombi said.
Addressing the media persons, TDC's president, H Ranjit, said the council is meanwhile writing to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) urging it to investigate any irregularities in the highway developmental work in Manipur.
The NHIDCL took over the work and maintenance of the NH-37 from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2014. However, decades after, the condition of the highway has not improved much, Ranjit said, alleging that there may have been gross irregularities in the execution of the development works by the NHIDCL and the many agencies it is engaging.
While the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) remains the only operational highway at present following the closure of the NH-2 (Imphal- Dimapur) by different civil groups since mid May, the dilapidated condition of the road at many stretches has hindered traffic.
IMPHAL, Jun 30: A joint monitoring committee consisting of members of Drivers' Union, Police and NHIDCL may be formed soon to oversee highways development works, said Transporters and Drivers Council's vice president Kh Ibotombi today.
He announced this to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
The TDC vice president also informed that the Drivers' Union has decided to roll back the hands-off-steering wheel stir, which was scheduled to start from July 1, after considering assurance given by the Chief Minister to repair the NH-37.
While the Drivers' Union has called off its proposed stir, vehicular movement on NH-37 has been halted after a landslide between Awangkhul and Rangkhong deposited debris on a portion of the stretch. Vehicle movement may resume after the debris is cleared, said sources.
Notably, the meeting today with the Chief Minister came a day after an earlier meeting between representatives of the Drivers' Union and Commissioner (Home) failed to reach an agreement. The Drivers' Union had then stated that it would launch its proposed stir from July 1 unless positive steps are taken by the Government to repair damaged sections of NH-37.
In the meeting today, the drivers' fraternity was represented by TDC vice president Kh Ibotombi, general secretary Radhamohon Sharma, Drivers' Union general secretary Maimom Anil Meitei and the union's treasurer Kangjam Deepu Kumar.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the Government side which included Commissioner (Home) Ashok Kumar, IGP Zone III and in-charge of National Highway Kamei Angam Romanus and officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Kh Ibotombi said the Drivers' Union's proposed stir has been called off after carefully considering the Chief Minister's assurance to repair the road and the impact the stir would have on the public at this critical movement when there is not much movement of goods into Manipur.
During the meeting, the NHIDCL officials sought some time to repair the road, but the request was refused, Ibotombi said.
The NHIDCL officials were asked to take up the repair work on a war footing, he said.
On the instruction of the Chief Minister, a joint committee consisting of members of the Drivers' Union, Government officials, IGP in-charge of Highway and NHIDCL may soon be formed to oversee works on the highways, Ibotombi said.
Addressing the media persons, TDC's president, H Ranjit, said the council is meanwhile writing to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) urging it to investigate any irregularities in the highway developmental work in Manipur.
The NHIDCL took over the work and maintenance of the NH-37 from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2014. However, decades after, the condition of the highway has not improved much, Ranjit said, alleging that there may have been gross irregularities in the execution of the development works by the NHIDCL and the many agencies it is engaging.
While the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) remains the only operational highway at present following the closure of the NH-2 (Imphal- Dimapur) by different civil groups since mid May, the dilapidated condition of the road at many stretches has hindered traffic.