Imphal to have rail connection by 2018.

The Indian Railways' is aiming to finish work at the 84-km-long Jiribam-Tupul segment of the new rail line project between Jiribam to Imphal by March 2016.

Officials at the Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) said the Jiribam-Tupul section will require a total 1,310 hectare of land and of this, work is in progress in 1,263 hectares.

'There will be 112 minor bridges, six major bridges, three road over-bridges (ROB) and two road under-bridges (RUB). Out of that, work on 52 minor bridges has been completed. Construction of ROBs and RUBs has also been completed,' a NFR (Construction) official said.

The project will have 34 tunnels totaling 39,401 metres and of that tunneling work for 18,152 metres has been completed till now.

'There will be six new station buildings, out of which work for one station building is in progress. Besides, 12.5 km track linking the main line from Jiribam to Dholakhal section and 1.20 km of loop line have also been completed. We expect to complete the project by March 2016,' the official said.

In the second phase, work on the 27-km stretch between Tupul and Imphal section will be taken up.

The Assam Tribune