The Tata Energy Research Institute will shortly commence survey work of the proposed 96-km long Jiribam to Imphal railway line. The survey is likely to be completed by next February. 
    A budgetary provision for surveying the construction of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line has been made in the Union railway budget for 2001-2002. This is over and above the current allocation of funds for construction of a railway line from Diphu to Karong.
    The extension of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line, which is estimated to cost Rs 1,225 crore, is an alternative line to the original Rs 1,650 crore Diphu-Karong line project. The original plan was to construct a 125-km long railway line from Diphu to Karong and onto Imphal, about 200 km. Further, this line would have to pass through difficult terrain in Nagaland and Karbi Anglong in Assam. On the other hand, the Jiribam-Imphal line will be approximately 96 km long, thus reducing construction cost and time, and also connecting Imphal by rail. 
    The construction of the railway head from Diphu to Karong has, however, been delayed because environment clearances from Nagaland and Assam, though which the line traverses, is awaited.