Imphal, Aug 8 : Giving a breather to the blockade-hit people of Manipur, the Railways has begun ferrying the state's quota of rice to Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam.
This will help the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ferry rice from its godown at Jiribam, the only railhead in Manipur, to Imphal along National Highway-53, which is also known as the Silchar -Imphal route.
On Thursday evening, a goods train with 22 coaches of rice equivalent to 80 truckloads arrived at Jiribam from Silchar via Rampur in Assam.
The freight operation began after a gap of over 10 years even as Central paramilitary forces started escorting goods trucks along NH-39 in the face of the ongoing blockade of national highways by the United Naga Council (UNC).
The Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) expressed happiness over security forces escorting trucks, which has been one of its longstanding demands. It lauded the efforts of the state government and FCI officials to transport rice by train.
The TDC recently attended a meeting in Imphal where members of a Central delegation, including top FCI officials, were present. The meeting was chaired by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
TDC president H Ranjit said some of their demands have been fulfilled because of the unstinted support of the United Committee, Manipur (UCM), the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and other civil groups.
Ranjit added that there was a need to upgrade the storage capacity of the FCI godown at Jiribam from the present 2500 metric tonnes to 15,000-20,000 metric tonnes. He also urged the state government and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up a supply point of petroleum products in and around Jiribam.
Manipur may persuade FCI authorities to nominate rice transport contractors from Jiribam to Imphal and that the transportation charge may be fixed in tandem with the existing rate, he said.
To ensure safe and smooth traffic along the Imphal-Silchar route, Ranjit said the government should start repair work on a war footing.
He added that the TDC's decision not to ply vehicles on NH-39 with police escorts remains unchanged.
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