Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has asked the Centre to consider a national highway patrolling scheme during the 12th Plan on a fast-track basis and to find a viable long-term solution in this context.
Speaking at the chief ministers' conference on internal security in New Delhi recently Ibobi said that ensuring security of convoys carrying essential commodities along the two national highways in Manipur was a major concern because of disturbances caused by armed militants.
Ibobi's demand came in the wake of the frequent blockade of national highways by Naga and Kuki tribals. He urged the Centre to advise the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to stick to the deadline of December 2013 for upgradation of national highway 53, which connects Imphal with Silchar in Assam.
Ibobi said NH 53, along with the Imphal-Moreh sector of NH 39, is the backbone of the proposed Trans-Asian Highway (TAH). The CM emphasised the need for improvement of telecom connectivity along NH 53 for providing effective security to the convoys.
Ibobi expressed his gratitude to Union home minister P Chidambaram for deploying a CRPF battalion during the construction of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line. He urged the Centre to examine the feasibility of extending the railway line to the border town of Moreh during Phase-III of the project, which would be the backbone of the TAH.