RailEnquiry

IMPHAL  – Manipur Government will set up five new police stations to provide security to the ongoing railway project in the State.A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Friday approved the proposal of establishing five police stations to provide security cover for the 86 km Jiribam-Tupul railway project, sources said.The five new police stations would be set up at Keimai, Khongshang, Awangkhul, Zoujangtek and Thangal, all in Tamenglong district through which the railway line would pass.The Cabinet also gave its consent for opening another police station at Machi village in Chandel district bordering Myanmar.Member Finance of the Railway Board, Vijaya Kanth informed Manipur-based journalists attending the two-day National Editors’ Conference in New Delhi which began on Saturday that completion of the Rs 4,442 crore railway project in Manipur has been delayed because of last year’s frequent economic blockades on Manipur highways.

Kanth said that work is progressing smoothly and funds for the year 2013-2014 have already been sanctioned.

The target for completion of the Jiribam-Tupul rail project, which was launched by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in November 2004, has been extended to 2016. Subsequently target for the 25 km Tupul-Imphal sector has been deferred to 2018.

However, of the 35 tunnels to be constructed between Tupul to Imphal, 20 have been completed, according to Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal.

The total length of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line would be 111 kms and has been declared a National Project.