Deadline served to complete national highway bridges

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, September 29, 2019: Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) has demanded the Manipur government to complete construction of Makru and Barak river bridges by 2020 deadline.

The TDC says the bridges constructions have been completed for only 40 percent.

TDC president Hijam Ranjit cautioned that National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NSIDCL) must bear the grievances of transporters who are discharging duty along Imphal-Jiribam national highway if the constructions of the bridges are not completed within the deadline.

He told reporters on Saturday at TDC office here that NHIDCL has been blaming the law and order situation for the slow progress of construction of the bridges and plays delay. He asked “Is the NHIDCL delays the constructions to get revise rate or to get some financial benefit?” The hidden agenda of NHIDCL and Border Road Organisation (BRO) is same, he added.

The two temporary substitute bridges have the capacity to carry 40 tons but NHIDCL claimed that the bridges cannot carry the loads and advised the transporters to reduce the loads. The carriers were told to carry less than 24 tons. The transporters remain unable to bear the expenses, he added.

If construction of the bridges is not completed within the deadline transport service along the highway could be ceased, he cautioned.