Delay clouds WB road project in Manipur

IMPHAL, April 23: Delay in completion of the pre-survey work for the proposed World Bank funded Manipur road development project has caused considerable anxiety over the fate of the project. The pre-project survey, being undertaken with the Spain-based TYPSA Company as consultants, was targeted to be completed and the survey report submitted in January 2001. That target could not be met, and the World Bank was asked to allow till February 2001 for the completion of the survey work. Despite the extension, however, the survey report has still to be submitted. The proposed World Bank road development project envisages the construction and upgradation of altogether 1000 kilometers of road in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore. While 250 kilometers of road are to be newly constructed to international standards, upgradation work would be taken up on another 750 kilometers of road. While state government sources said the World Bank has not made any comment on the delay, there is considerable anxiety that the project might be-cancelled by the Bank, if there is further delay. Senior officials of the state public works department blamed the uncertain law and order situation in the state for the delay in completion of the survey work. They have however expressed confidence that the survey report can be submitted by the last week of May. In the meantime, it is learnt that the survey report for the French sponsored Imphal-Ukhrul road upgradation project has already been submitted. Under the project, the 84 kilometers length of the Imphal-Ukhrul road is to be upgraded at a cost of Rs 71 crore. Knowledgeable sources also disclosed that the Union ministry of surface transport has given the green signal for initiation of construction work on the Churachandpur-Tipaimukh sector of National Highway 150. This work will be undertaken by the Border Roads Organization, BRO. The state public works department will on the other hand handle the Churachandpur to Jessami via Imphal sector of the road.