During his visit to Manipur and in the preceding weeks, the Prime Minister held intensive consultations with the Chief Minister on the projects that could be taken up for the development of the state.
Based on the discussions, the following projects are being announced for being implemented in the near future:
1. In view of the acute shortage of advanced medical facilities in the state, it has been decided to upgrade the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal with facilities on par with the AIIMS. This will be done at a cost of Rs.130 crore which is being sanctioned by NEC and another Rs.100 crore to be sanctioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. The RIMS will also be transferred to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare so that it will have no shortage of staff or resources in future. Its regional character will be maintained.
3. In order to improve health facilities in the remote districts, five 50-bedded hospitals have been sanctioned at Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati and Jiribam. These hospitals, costing Rs.75 crore in total, will bring good health facilities closer to people’s homes.
4. A National Sports Academy has been sanctioned at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex costing Rs.18 crore, this Academy will boost the sporting activities in the state and keep Manipur in the forefront of national sports. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for this today.
5. The request of the State Government to upgrade and convert the Manipur Institute of Technology to a National Institute of Technology has been agreed. The necessary proposal to make it an NIT will be moved shortly. This will give Imphal an engineering college of a national standard. This decision, along with the fulfillment of the promise to convert Manipur University into a Central University, will give the youth of Manipur top class educational facilities.
6. The City Development Plan for Imphal has been approved under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for a total outlay of Rs.1870 crores. As this plan gets implemented, Imphal will take the shape of a modern city and will be an engine of growth for the state.
7. Roads being vital for connectivity, the Prime Minister agreed to the request to include the 4-laning of NH-39 from Maram to Imphal. This 78 km stretch will cost Rs. 300 crore. The stretch from Dimapur to Kohima to Maram is already included in NHDP-III and with the coverage upto Imphal, the state will have a 4-lane highway to Dimapur.
8. In the last two years, NH-53 to Jiribam and Silchar has been restored with the repair of bridges on Barak and Makru. Work has begun on the Jiribam-Tupul Railway and will be completed in 4-5 years. With this, the valley of Manipur will be on India’s rail-map.
9. The Old Cachar Road is the historical route into Manipur. This road will be made a motorable road at a cost of Rs.86 crores and is included in NECs 11th Plan. With this, there will be an additional westward road link for the state.
10. Air connectivity being extremely important for the state, the absence of night landing restricts the time available for flying. The Civil Aviation Department will be asked to begin work on installing night landing facilities at Imphal Airport. Private airlines are already flying to Manipur.
11. The Central Government has also sanctioned an assistance of Rs.21 crore for the construction of 6 bridges at Bahu Bazar, Haokha, Leisangthem, Irong Ichin, Klyamgel Mang Mapa and Moirang-Kumbl.
12. A Convention Centre is being built at Imphal at a cost of Rs.24 crore. This will give a boost to tourism in the state. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for this.
13. Assistance of Rs.35 crore is being provided for the construction of College Buildings and other facilities for the Manipur Institute of Technology. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for this.
14. Power is a major constraint for the growth of the state. But the potential for power generation is immense. The Central Government has worked closely with the state government to launch the Tipalmukh and Loktak Downstream Hydro Electric Projects. Together, these projects will generate 1566 MW of power and transform the economic prospects of the state. Costing Rs.6,000 crores respectively, they have been approved by the Public Investment Board. They now need environmental clearances which are being pursued and will be obtained soon. Two senior Central Ministers, Shri Shushil Kumar Shinde (Power) and Shri Santosh Mohan Dev (Heavy Industry) will come shortly to lay the foundation stones of these projects. The Central Government stands committed to the early completion of these vital projects.
YSR/SK/SK