Ministry recommends probe on BRO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 23 2014: Contrary to their repeated claims that they could not meet the deadlines set for developing Imphal-Jiribam highway due to late release of necessary funds by the Centre, it has been discovered that BRO did not take up many projects for which due sanctions have been granted.

Anguished by the BRO's performance or rather non-performance, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued stringent instruction to institute an enquiry against BRO.

For the highly dilapidated 7 Kms long section ahead of Makru bridge and just beyond, the Ministry granted the necessary sanction but the BRO never took up the project which only aggravated the highway section's sorry state, informed a well placed source.

Makru bridge on the Imphal-Jiribam road

For development of a 46 Km long section of the highway after crossing Makru bridge (starting from Jiribam), the Ministry sanctioned Rs 41 crore in 1998/99 .

From the sanctioned amount of Rs 41 crore, a 3 Km long section was repaired/developed but a 7 Km long section was left out completely.

After a gap of almost 16 years since the first sanction was granted, the BRO submitted a revised estimate recently for repairing the left out 7 Km long section.

The Ministry not only rejected the BRO's revised estimate but also issued instruction to institute an enquiry against BRO for not repairing the highway section even after 16 years since the necessary fund was sanctioned.

Apart from the instruction for enquiry, the Ministry sent an SE today to cpnduct a direct assessment of the existing condition of Imphal-Jiribam highway.

After making a field assessment, the SE pointed out that the road between milestones 83 and 96 was highly dilapidated in addition to the left out 7 Km long section.

As the BRO's revised estimate has been rejected by the Ministry, no one is sure when the highly dilapidated 7 Km long section would be repaired.

Although the Barak and Makru bridges were constructed anew in the form of bailey suspension bridges as the former bridges were no longer fit for heavy loaded trucks, the new Barak bailey suspension bridge has been closed citing technical problems.

Even though wooden planks should be used as runner for the Barak bailey suspension bridge, steel plates were used instead.

As a result, the weight of the bridge grew much heavier than its specified weight.

The BRO used steel plates instead of wooden planks thinking about maintenance.

Funds necessary for construction of Barak and Makru bailey suspension bridges were sanctioned by the Ministry in October 2013 with the objective of uninterrupted movement of loaded trucks until RCC bridges are constructed.

But the existing condition is such that loaded trucks should unload some of their consignments and make the vehicles lighter before crossing the bridges.

Moreover, the deadlines for completing the bridge construction works were extended repeatedly, added the source.