Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has laid today foundation stone for 17 road projects at Jiribam and state capital Imphal of Manipur. The road projects will cover 493 Kilometres with a cost of 1,152 Crores of rupees.<br/><br/>Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony at Imphal, Mr. Gadkari said, 10 out of the 17 road projects will be implemented by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and the remaining seven will be implemented through Manipur Public Works Department.<br/><br/>He also said that Centre has accorded special status to Manipur and is planning a package of more than 22,000 Crores of rupees for road development of Manipur over a period of three to four years.<br/><br/>Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and BJP State Legislature Party Leader Khumukcham Joykishan also attended the foundation stone laying ceremony.<br/>