Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has moved forward with the proposed 25-km elevated corridor in Imphal by transferring the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for further processing. The Rs 3,691.81 crore project is expected to receive approval before the Manipur Assembly elections scheduled for March-April 2027.
The development follows a recent meeting in New Delhi between Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. During the meeting, Gadkari reiterated the Centre’s commitment to securing early approval for the project, fulfilling an assurance he had given to the people of Manipur in 2022.
According to NHIDCL Deputy General Manager (Manipur) Rafique Ahmad Choudhury, the DPR is currently undergoing technical appraisal and is likely to receive final clearance before the state goes to polls in 2027.
Officials said the appraisal process is progressing through a series of review meetings involving MoRTH, NHIDCL and Nagpur-based consultancy firm M/s K&J Projects Private Limited, which prepared the DPR.
Once approved, the four-lane elevated corridor will stretch for 25 km with a vertical clearance of 5.5 metres. The proposed route will begin at Koirengei Junction along NH-02 and bifurcate near Raj Bhavan Rotary. One arm will extend towards Manipur University via NH-102, while the other will connect to Imphal International Airport through NH-02. The project also includes a two-lane flyover linking CM Traffic Rotary with the City Convention Centre.
The elevated corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion across Imphal by improving connectivity along key national highways passing through the city. It is also projected to enhance the movement of goods, reduce travel time and vehicle operating costs, and improve overall transport efficiency.
With an estimated cost of Rs 3,691.81 crore, the project is expected to be the largest urban road infrastructure initiative ever undertaken in Manipur and is seen as a major step towards modernising the state’s transport network.