The union minister laid the foundation stone for 16 National Highway Projects in Manipur with an investment of Rs 4,148 crore covering a total length of 298 kms. Money is not a problem, resolve issues, get the job done, he tells the Manipur government.
TFM Desk
Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow progress of projects regarding highway expansion, environmental clearance, etc, in Manipur, Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari directed the Manipur Government to resolve the issues, while maintaining that “money is not the problem”.
Nitin Gadkari was speaking at the City Convention Center, Imphal on Monday while inaugurating and laying foundation stone for 16 National Highway Projects in Manipur with an investment of Rs 4,148 crores covering a total length of 298 kms.
“I like honest people, who can get things done,” the minister said. “I know that there are problems, but what is the meaning of leadership? We need to win over all our problems. That is the test of leadership. We need to resolve the problems and increase the speed,” he added.
Maintaining that the ministry is ready to sanction funds for developmental projects, Nitin Gadkari sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders for resolution of problems and completion of projects in a time bound manner. Regarding the expansion of national highways, he said that reasonable compensation is being offered for land acquisition.
On a lighter note, Nitin Gadkari recounted that when he asked Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh about the main source of revenue for the state, the chief minister replied “that is the problem”.
Stressing on the importance of leadership, he exuded confidence in CM Biren to bring about a socio-economic transformation in the state.
“Without good communication there can be no industries, without industries there can be no employment and without employment poverty cannot be eradicated,” he noted.
The union minister also announced that projects worth Rs 5,000 crore have also been sanctioned for the state and the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) will be completed within six months and the work will start in a year’s time.
He said expansion of highways in the state will be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase ll. He said the prime minister is giving highest priority to the Northeast and road infrastructure will contribute to the development of Manipur and make it socially and economically strong.
The minister said water, power, transport and communication are the four most important things for development of industry, for generating employment and eradicating poverty.
Lauding the scenic beauty of the state, the union minister stressed on the potential of tourism of the state.
The Makru Bridge, along the Imphal-Jiribam national highway was amongst the projects inaugurated by the union minister on Monday. A team of ministers, MLAs, officials of NHIDCL, including the union minister later went to the Makru Bridge on a helicopter to inaugurate the bridge in person.