Alternative funding agencies may be explored, says PWD Cost of Ring Road pegged at Rs 1660 Cr

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 14: The Public Works Department (PWD) has stated that the State Government may explore alternative funding agencies if the Asian Development Bank (ADB) backs away from funding the Imphal Ring Road Project.
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) organised the third session of its “Meet the Press” series today at the DIPR auditorium. In today’s session, PWD officials briefed the media.
PWD (EAP) Project Director and Additional Chief Engineer-III Ch Uttam Singh said that the Imphal Ring Road Project was envisaged with 80 per cent funding from the ADB while the State Government should foot the remaining 20 per cent.
Construction of roads has already begun under the project out of the State’s 20 per cent share but the ADB is yet to sanction any money for the project.
So far, construction of 5.6 per cent of the total roads has been completed, he said.
The Project Director said that the total estimated cost of the Imphal Ring Road Project is Rs 1660 crore and the project was initiated in 2020. The total road length of the project is 51.25 Kms.
He said that the project was taken up to ease traffic congestion in Imphal city.
The ADB had reviewed the project several times and  the last review was done in March 2026. The ADB team also gave their observations, he said.
The State PWD has given its reply to the observations made by the ADB and the bank’s decision is being awaited, Uttam said.
If the ADB decides to back away from the project, the State Government may explore alternative funding agencies, he said.
The PWD (EAP) Project Director informed that the department is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of 10,000 Kms of roads and around 100 bridges. These do not include National Highways.
The department has been  implementing projects under various funding sources including the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF-NABARD), Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), North Eastern Council (NEC), State Budget, National Highways, Externally Aided Projects (EAP)  and Deposit  Works.
After a new Government headed by Chief Minister Y Khemchand was formed in February 2026, an amount of Rs 319.75 crore was sanctioned for construction of 321 roads across the 60 Assembly Constituencies of Manipur during the financial year 2025-26.
The State Government has also agreed in-principle to sanction Rs 285.75 crore for improvement of major roads, divided into 91 works, Uttam said.
Upgradation of urban road network covering 547.28 Kms is going on at present under the Manipur Urban Road, Drainage and Asset Management Improvement Project (MURDAMIP) which is funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment (AIIB), he said.
Under this project, rigid concrete pavements are being constructed and its expected life-span is 30 years, he added.
The project also includes construction of lined drainage systems, utility corridors, walkways, junction improvement, road safety features, new bridges and rehabilitation of existing bridges, Uttam said.
The project covers 547.28 Kms across Greater Imphal, including municipal areas and 77 villages in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, and the total project cost is estimated at Rs 3,647 crore with civil works valued at Rs 2,883 crore.    
Uttam said that the project is being implemented in 16 Assembly Constituencies under four packages.
Package I covers Patsoi, Sagolband, Lamsang, Thangmeiband and Uripok ACs while Package II covers Kshetrigao, Khurai, Heingang and Wangkhei ACs.
Package III covers Yaiskul, Thongju and Keirao while Package IV covers Singjamei, Keisham-thong, Naoriya Pakhang- lakpa and Langthabal ACs.
The overall progress of the project so far is 15 per cent and the expenditure incurred till date is Rs 317 crore, he said.
He added that 71.8 Kms of rigid pavements have been constructed so far.
The project began in 2025 and it should be completed by 2027, Uttam said.
Drains will be constructed along the rigid pavements and these drains will be covered so that they can be used as footpaths, he said.
On being enquired about the limited number of machinery being used by companies engaged in constructing the rigid pavements, and the resultant slow progress, the PWD (EAP) Project Director said that the companies have been asked to raise the number of machinery.
Uttam also informed that tender process is nearing completion for construction of a modern forensic laboratory at Pangei at the cost of Rs 48.64 crore.
Under the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, the PWD has been constructing    a district sports complex at Kangpokpi at the estimated cost of Rs 11.27 crore.
A multipurpose indoor hall is also being constructed at Khuman Lampak at the estimated cost of Rs 36.24 crore.
Khuman Lampak Sports Complex’s cycling velodrome is also being upgraded at the cost of Rs 7.28 crore.
Further, a building of Churachandpur district Court is being constructed under the Law and Legislative Affairs Department at the estimated cost of Rs 9.91 crore, he said.
On being enquired about the pathetic condition of the Imphal-Jiribam highway, the Additional Chief Engineer-III said that the Imphal-Jiribam highway is being constructed and maintained by NHIDCL under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Just like NHIDCL, the State PWD is also an agency and it does not have the authority to monitor the works of another agency.
Even though the State PWD cannot interfere in the works of NHIDCL, the State Government can monitor its works, he added.
Additional Chief Engineer-I Dr Ngangom Senior, PWD’s National Highway and NEC Superintending Engineer Ajmida Sahani, Superintending Surveyor of Works Th Komol and Surveyor of Works L Vivek Roy were also present at the press meet.