Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, September 9:
A long-pursued effort to give Ukhrul town a stronger, safer and more durable road network has moved decisively from political advocacy to the execution stage, with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) inviting bids for a Rs. 40.55-crore improvement project covering a nine-kilometre stretch of NH-102A through Ukhrul district.
The development marks a significant step forward in Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah’s sustained push for modern road infrastructure in the hill district, where heavy monsoon rainfall, recurring road deterioration and inadequate urban drainage have long compounded the difficulties faced by residents, commuters and businesses.
According to the NHIDCL tender notice issued on September 3, 2026, the project involves the “One Time Improvement of Existing Ukhrul Town Road” from Km 0+000 near Dungrei Junction to Km 9+000 near Toloi Junction, a total length of nine kilometres, through Thin White Topping (TWT) technology.
The work is to be executed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode during the 2026–27 financial year, with an estimated cost of ¹ 40.55 crore, exclusive of GST. The stipulated completion period is 12 months, followed by a three-year maintenance period.
The tender process formally opened on September 3, with the deadline for online submission of bids fixed for September 23 at 3 p.m. The technical bids are scheduled to be opened on September 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the NHIDCL Regional Office in Imphal, while the date for opening the financial bids of technically qualified bidders will be announced subsequently.
The project’s movement into the tendering stage comes after MLA Ram Muivah recently met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and pressed for a more durable solution to the long-standing deterioration of the Ukhrul town road.
Muivah, a retired IAS officer, has made road connectivity and infrastructure development a major component of his political agenda since entering active politics. His latest initiative is being viewed as an important effort to translate that agenda into tangible infrastructure on the ground.
Expressing gratitude to Union Minister Gadkari for what he described as prompt intervention, Muivah said the sanction for the project represented an important breakthrough for Ukhrul.
The MLA said the choice of a rigid pavement-based technology was particularly important given Ukhrul’s climatic conditions.
With the town receiving substantial rainfall during the monsoon, conventional bituminous surfacing has often failed to provide the desired longevity, he pointed out. Based on past experience, asphalt surfaces in the town frequently deteriorate within a relatively short period, requiring repeated repairs and expenditure.
Muivah argued that a more durable pavement solution was therefore necessary for Ukhrul, stressing that modern rigid pavement technology can provide significantly longer service life when properly designed, constructed and maintained.
However, the proposed project is not merely about laying a stronger road surface. The MLA has stressed that the improvement should be approached as an integrated urban road project, with proper drainage and pedestrian infrastructure forming an essential part of the work.
He has particularly advocated ensuring that the rigid pavement extends from drain to drain, rather than treating the carriageway in isolation. Properly constructed pucca drains, he said, should be provided with concrete slab covers wherever feasible, creating additional usable space that can function as pedestrian pathways.
For a growing hill town such as Ukhrul, such an approach could have implications beyond vehicular movement. Safe pedestrian infrastructure remains a major requirement in congested stretches where residents frequently share narrow road space with vehicles.
Muivah has further suggested that footpaths should ideally incorporate hand railings, particularly at vulnerable stretches, to improve pedestrian safety.
The NHIDCL tender specifies that the work is to be carried out in accordance with prescribed design standards, specifications and drawings and the relevant Indian Roads Congress codes. The detailed scope is contained in the project’s Bill of Quantities and bidding documents.
The tendering process itself now places the project at a critical transition point. Eligible experienced firms and organisations have been invited to participate, while firms declared non-performing or blacklisted/debarred by NHIDCL for the specified period have been excluded from bidding.
The development is likely to generate considerable expectations among the people of Ukhrul, who have for years endured damaged road surfaces, drainage problems and difficult driving conditions, particularly during the monsoon.
At the same time, Muivah has cautioned that the benefits of the proposed technology will come with temporary inconvenience during construction. Rigid pavement construction requires a curing period, and traffic management will therefore be essential to minimise disruption to residents, businesses and road users.
The challenge ahead will be to ensure that the project is not only sanctioned and tendered but executed to the required engineering standards, within the stipulated timeframe and with adequate attention to drainage, pedestrian safety and long-term maintenance.
For Ukhrul, the Rs. 40.55-crore project could consequently represent more than a routine road improvement. If executed as envisaged, the nine-kilometre upgrade could reshape one of the town’s principal road corridors and provide a more resilient urban transport backbone for years to come.
For MLA Ram Muivah, the tendering of the project offers a concrete indication that his sustained efforts to secure improved infrastructure for Ukhrul are beginning to translate into visible government action.
The road ahead, however, will now depend on the quality of bidding, timely award of the contract and, ultimately, disciplined execution on the ground. The expectation among the people is clear: Ukhrul needs not another temporary road repair, but a durable, properly drained and pedestrian-friendly town road built to withstand the realities of the hill district’s demanding terrain and climate.