Express Highway-Connection With NHs-39 And 53 At Haflong

Manipur State Govt floats novel idea for better connectivity

Imphal, Nov 3 : For improvement of road connectivity in Manipur, the State Government has submitted a proposal to the Centre for connecting the National Highways 39 and 53 with the proposed Express Highway (East-West corridor that would connect Saurastra with Silchar) at Haflong in Assam.

An official source said that as the Centre is not keen on the idea of extending the proposed Express Highway upto Imphal, the State Government has proposed that the existing National Highways 39 and 53 should be bifurcated as National Highway 39 (A) and National Highway 53 (A) so as to connect with the Express Highway at Haflong.

According to the State Government's proposal, National Highway 39 (A) will run through Bishnupur connecting it with Haflong via Rengpang, Khongshang, Tamenglong and Tousem while National Highway 53 (A) should connect Kangpokpi with Haflong via Tamei and Tamenglong so as to link up with the Express Highway at Haflong.

A part of the East West corridor between Gauhati and Silchar

The source explained that bifurcation would not only reduce the distance but would also resolve the transportation difficulties that are likely to be faced from submersion of some portion of National Highway-53 when construction work on the proposed Tipaimukh dam starts.
Moreover the realignment of the road and construction of bridges over Barak and Makru would take a lot of time.

Following the State Government's proposal, the Chief Minister has also written to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways for development of the two National Highways so that they may be connected to the proposed Express Highway of the East-West corridor, the source disclosed, adding that the Ministry has also given some positive feedbacks to the proposal.

It may be noted here that during his recent visit to the State, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai had announced that a sum of Rs 300 crores released for development of National Highway 53 had already been handed over to the BRO.

via : The Sangai Express