NONEY, Sept 27 - The Manipur Government will develop tourist facilities here in a major way in order to attract visitors from all over the world. The construction of the world�s tallest girder railway bridge across the valley of the Ijai river is currently going on in this picturesque hill town.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh made an announcement in this regard while speaking during the World Tourism Day celebration on the Longmai ground at Noney, 70 km from Imphal, today.
The railway bridge is slated to become the tallest bridge in the world with its pillar height surpassing the tallest one along the Mala-Rijeka viaduct on the Belgrade-Bar railway line in Europe. It is part of the 111-km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line which passes through steep rolling hills to connect the Manipur capital with the broad gauge network in the country. The estimated cost of the bridge is Rs 280 crore.
On October 12, 2017, Chief Minister Biren Singh led a ministerial team to inspect the construction works.
Assuring that funds amounting to Rs 50 lakh each for development of a tourist spot in all Assembly segments would be included in the next budget, the Chief Minister said that a sum of Rs 30 lakh would be borne by the State Government, while the remaining amount would accrue from the MLA�s local area development fund.
Maintaining that the tourism sector is the future of Manipur, Biren Singh said that cafeterias or eating joints would be developed in urban areas, while homestays would come up in the rural and hill areas.
Seeking suggestions for the Chief Minister�s Green Manipur Mission as well as stressing the need for developing the memorial sites of Rani Gaidinliu and Haipou Jadonang as tourist places, the Chief Minister revealed that the Centre has been urged to upgrade the Kaiphundai-Tousem-Haflong Road to a national highway.
