Imphal. April 10 MNS/ NNN: Union Minister of State (MOS) for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju visited the Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh on Tuesday to inspect the progress of the on-going border fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The Union minister of State for Defence came from Nagaland in a chopper and flew straight to Moreh where he inspected the border fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border being undertaken now and later on held a meeting with concerned officials at Moreh, after which he flew back to Imphal.
Dr Raju visited the border areas and inspected the works taken up by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). He also took stock of the works taken up inside Myanmar by BRO. The BRO is constructing Tamu Kalewa road at Myanmar.
Dr. Pallam Raju called on Manipur chief minister of Manipur O. Ibobi Singh at at the latter’s official bungalow at around 4 pm for nearly 50 minutes, but the details of the meeting could not be ascertained till the time of filing of this report.
The Union minister also called the Governor of Manipur Gurbachand Jagat at Raj Bhavan and will be holding the night here in Imphal, said an official source.
The Defence minister will be visiting Tamenglong district and Jiribam sub-division on Wednesday for an inspection of work being taken up by BRO on National Highway 37 which links Imphal with Assam and other parts of India and inaugurate a road newly constructed by Assam Rifles in Tamenglong district, after which he will visit Jiribam sub-division, Imphal East district to have a first-hand account of the progress made so far of railway tracks being laid to connect Imphal with the rest of the country through railways, said the official source.
It may be mentioned that the progress of the work being undertaken by BRO along National Highway 37 has been alleged to be very slow by truck owners, truck drivers, and various civil society organizations and letters and memorandums urging the Union Government to speed up the progress of the work along this highway before the rainy season begins have been submitted by various concerned parties.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built a 720-meters-long bridge in Arunachal Pradesh. The Digaru bridge, linking Lohit and Dibang valley, was inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence and
Chairman, Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) Dr. MM Pallam Raju at a function in Lohit district yesterday.
The Digaru bridge, the longest bridge constructed by the BRO ever, was undertaken by Project Udayak.
The bridge, erected in extremely tough terrain, fulfills the long pending demand of the local population as well as the Army authorities.
Facing bad weather yesterday the Minister’s helicopter could not take off for Tezu, but Dr. Pallam Raju decided to travel by road instead. He underwent more than five hours grueling road journey including crossing of Alubari Ghat on traditional ferries/boats and experienced the hardships faced by the local population as well as Army personnel in terms of logistics in the absence of bridges in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh. Local authorities in Dao division made all logistic arrangements for the movement of the Minister by road and ferry crossings flawlessly despite short notice. During the road travel, Dr. Pallam Raju inspected each activity of road/bridge construction on National Highways NH-13 and NH-15. After the inauguration, he also inspected the portion of trans-Arunachal Highway being constructed by the BRO and visited Paya Production Centre from where all the pavement works material is being produced. The Minister complemented BRO for the excellent work being executed comparable to the international standards despite severe constraints.
Monday’s inauguration ceremony was attended by Lt Gen S. Ravi Shankar, Director General Border Roads (DGBR), Lt Gen Dalbir Singh, GOC, 3 Corps and other civil and military dignitaries. Lt Gen S Ravi Shankar thanked the Minister for inaugurating the bridge despite inclement weather and a long road journey involving more than 11 hours both ways for this occasion. DGBR also gave an account of all road/bridge infrastructure being developed in Arunachal Pradesh. Lt Gen Dalbir Singh complemented all officers and personnel of Project Udayak and 48 BRTF (Border Roads Task Force) for completion of longest departmentally constructed Digaru Bridge and its 1.6 kms long guide bunds and approach roads in record period.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dr-pallam-inspects-works-at-border/
