Responding to a private member resolution raised in the House by BJP member Laisam Simai, the minister admitted about the deplorable condition of all the state capital roads and informed that the state Cabinet had recently approved construction of 294 km cement concrete roads in the capital at an estimated cost of 35.89 crore in phased manner.
"In phase I, tender process has been completed and contract awarded for 16 kilometers of road at an estimated cost of 23.50 crore. Work will commence immediately after the monsoon season probably in the month of September next," he said.
"Of the remaining 271 km, an amount of 10.10 crore has already been sanctioned for black topping of 236 km of roads while another amount of 1.33 crore has been earmarked for black topping of 32 km of road besides an amount of 96 lakh for the remaining 25 km of road," he said.
The black topping would be carried out as temporary maintenance till work for cement concrete roads on the remaining portion of the roads begin, the minister said.
Drawing the attention of the house, Simai said that dilapidated roads with pot holes has been a cause of concern for the citizens of the state capital while several persons lost their lives every year because of road accidents.