Manipur Congress Flags Delay in PMGSY-III Tender

IMPHAL-  Manipur Congress President K. Meghachandra Singh on Monday criticised the state government for its failure to initiate and complete the tendering process for PMGSY Phase–III, accusing officials and political actors of deliberate delays and corruption.

Speaking to the media, Meghachandra said that PMGSY–III, sanctioned in 2019, initially received an approval of ₹404 crore, with an additional ₹205 crore allocated later. The national scheme aims to upgrade 1.25 lakh km of rural roads, with Manipur’s tender notification officially issued on 10 April 2024.

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He added that the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has now issued a formal notice to the Manipur government, stating that the extension for PMGSY–III works will end on 31 March 2026, after which no further extension will be granted. According to the ministry, any works started but unlikely to be completed before the deadline will not be considered for continuation.

Meghachandra alleged that despite repeated sanctions and deadlines, the tender process remains “incomplete and suspiciously stagnant.” He claimed that the delay stems from “a deliberate intention to loot public funds,” alleging collusion between state officials, a former minister and vested interest groups. According to him, cronyism and systemic corruption have obstructed the scheme’s rollout in the state.

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The Congress leader demanded strict action, urging that Rural Engineering Department officials responsible for the lapse be held accountable and booked for negligence.

He argued that the delay not only undermines rural road connectivity but risks the state losing a major central-funded project due to administrative apathy. The Manipur government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.