Centre delays getting CCAE approval for extension of railway line upto Imphal

“No communication regarding the approval of the CCEA has been received by the state government,” said an action taken report sent to the Centre after a meeting on core development issues held in Imphal between the concerned officials of the state government and Centre under the chair of Union Cabinet secretary, Dr Renuka Vishanathan in April this year.

A decision taken at the meeting held on April 26 last, mention may be made, had asked the Union ministry of railways to obtain CCEA approval by May 2008 with regard to the extension of the railway line upto Imphal.

The meeting held in Imphal under the chair of the Union Cabinet secretary Dr Renuka Vishanathan had discussed core developmental issues in the state. The secretary herself recently called for an action taken report on the decisions arrived at the meeting, which the state government furnished on September 2.

The state government has also no knowledge whether the railway board has appointed any consultant for making tunnels, it said while requesting the Cabinet secretary to intervene in the matter. Here, it may be mentioned that the railway board officials had agreed to consult a foreign consultancy agency for the tunnels to be constructed while making the railway line upto Imphal.

In the action taken report submitted to the Cabinet secretary, while reiterating that the target for completion of the formation and bridge works in the first 9.9 kms is by the end of 2009 and the targeted date for the completion of the project is by March 2012, the state planning department suggested that it needs to closely monitor the progress of the works for construction of the railway line from Jiribam to Tupul located within Manipur.

As per a decision of the meeting, the state government has also provided security from 40 km to 9.90 km by establishing camps at Uchathol, Laisabithal and Tatbung. Apart from this, the state government is in the process of providing security at four other locations for resumption of survey works after the monsoon season ends, it stated.

For the said Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line construction, mention may be made that the final location survey has been completed for 52 kms out of the total length of 98 kms.

The balance was targeted to be completed by March, 2008. The part detailed estimate for 9.9 kms from Jiribam end has been sanctioned. Tender for earth work and minor bridges for first 10 kms has been awarded. The land has been handed over from Km 0.4-10 but is pending for 4 kms in east Imphal district.

The proposal is to extend the line from Tupul to Imphal as per the demand of the government of Manipur.

During final location survey, track alignment has been raised by 72 mts due to the construction of the Tipaimukh dam. This and the extension of line upto Imphal has increased the cost of the project from Rs.727 to Rs.2650 crores.

Work on earth work, major and minor bridges for the first 9.5 kms has started. The line upto Imphal road is targeted for March, 2012 and upto Imphal by March, 2014.

Imphal Free Press