Imphal, April 14 (NationPress) On Tuesday, Manipur's Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh conducted a site visit to the ongoing construction of the Imphal railway station located in Yurembam, within the Imphal West district. This visit was aimed at assessing the advancement of the highly awaited 111-km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway project, as reported by officials.

As per a representative from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Chief Minister received an update from officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on the current status of the railway station's construction and the overall Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway initiative.

During the briefing, NFR officials indicated that the ambitious railway project is on track for completion by December 2028. Singh also inspected the construction site of Tunnel No. 12 at Sangaithel, a critical segment of the railway line.

While at the site, he engaged with engineers and officials to evaluate the pace and quality of the work being undertaken. Accompanying the Chief Minister were MLAs Sapam Ranjan and Sorokhaibam Rajen, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) Anurag Bajpai, Commissioner to the Chief Minister N. Ashok Kumar, Transport Director Kh. Diana, along with other senior officials.

According to NFR representatives, the Jiribam-Imphal railway project, which has a budget of Rs 21,885 crore, has achieved nearly 90 percent physical progress, marking a significant milestone in the region's infrastructure development.

Once completed, this railway line is anticipated to substantially enhance tourism, promote industrial growth, create job opportunities, and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Manipur.

Upon completion, Imphal will be linked to the national railway network, joining the ranks of other northeastern capitals with rail connectivity, such as Dispur in Assam, Agartala in Tripura, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, and Aizawl in Mizoram.

In the meantime, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently visited Noney district to oversee the construction of the world's highest railway pier bridge over the Ijei River. This engineering marvel is a key component of the 111-km Jiribam–Imphal railway project and is expected to play a crucial role in connecting the state capital with the national railway grid.

During his visit, railway engineers briefed the Governor on the bridge's construction progress, indicating that the structure is nearing completion.

Bhalla praised the dedication of the engineers and workers involved in the project, urging them to uphold their commitment and diligence for the greater good of the state's residents.