Ukhrul: The widening and improvement of the Shangshak-Tengnoupal Road (Packages 1 and 3) of NH-102A in Manipur has been de-sanctioned due to land acquisition issues, pending litigation, and the need to integrate the segment from the NH-202 junction to Shangshak with the project.
In a letter from Rohit Parmar, Executive Engineer (Zone NE), the authority urged the Manipur government to halt the tender process for Packages 1 (Km 0.000 to Km 38.700) and 3 (Km 78.250 to Km 126.250), which were previously sanctioned.
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The letter stated that Package-1 faces challenges from temporary structures within the proposed Right of Way (RoW) following a Section 3A notification under the NH Act, 1956, while Package-3 is impacted by ongoing litigation in the Gauhati High Court.
Moreover, the stretch connecting NH-202 with Shangshak is not included in the current Package-1 proposal, although it is vital for the corridor’s development.
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The letter concluded that the entire Shangshak-Tengnoupal corridor should be developed as a single proposal to ensure better project planning and continuity. The State Government is advised to stop land acquisition for the affected packages until a comprehensive proposal is submitted, along with updates on the removal of temporary structures and current project statuses and expenditure, if any incurred.
It may be mentioned that the Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, had announced on December 17, 2024, the sanctioning of Rs 777.61 Crore for the widening and improvement of the Shangshak-Tengnoupal Road (Package 3) section of the NH-102A under the Annual Plan 2024-225. The project, spanning 48 kilometers, commences at Khonglo and terminates at Kasom Khullen, serving as a vital link between Ukhrul and Kamjong districts in Manipur.