Imphal, July 21: In view of the urgency to link Imphal with Jiribam along National Highway 53, the State Government has set July 24 as the target for completing the repairing work of the sabotaged Irang bridge.

25 Bn BRTF, which is responsible for construction of bridges and roads from Imphal to Barak stretch within which the bailey bridge locates, has already begun mobilisation for relaunching the bridge immediately after assessing the degree of the damage, Works Minister Th Debendra Singh said when interviewed by The Sangai Express.

Besides BRTF, the army and engineers of State PWD will join hands in the repairing works, the Minister said, while informing that the whole physical work will begin from Friday morning.

Large chuck of material will be transported from PWD store complex at Jiribam while some others will be rushed from Imphal to the spot, the Works Minister added.

Unidentified men sabotaged the Bailey bridge constructed over Irang river, under Nungba Police Station in the wee hours of Wednesday leaving traffic along route to a standstill.

About deployment of State forces along the said route, the Minister disclosed that a full strength of State forces would be deployed there in addition to the Army and Para-Military forces.

The forces including MR and IRB would be on static guard particularly at the bridges, he said adding that Manipur Police Housing Corporation has set up permanent camps for the State forces at certain strategic points including Keiphundai and Makru.

If the re-launching of the bridge meets the target, then the empty trucks that have moved to lift essential commodities may return on the same route, the Minister added.

Meanwhile, 25 Bn BRTF Commandant MA Raza informed The Sangai Express that they will meet the target set by the State Government for repairing the damaged bridge.

Elaborating on the mode of re-launching the task, the CO said almost all the material will be procured from Jiribam PWD store on loan basis.

Around 100 labourers from Barak area would be pressed into service for the re-launching work, he said, adding that some Army personnel from 53 Regiment (Engineering), Leimakhong will also extend help in terms of providing heavy machineries.

The State PWD engineers will also join the repair work, he said, adding that mobilisation has already begun since yesterday.

He also iterated that the whole physical work would begin on a war footing from Friday morning.

An emergency meeting in this respect was convened by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh this morning in which all official concerned including himself (CO), Chief Secretary and top brass of Army and Para-Military forces took part, the CO informed.

The Irang bridge in Tamenglong was dislocated by suspected blockade supporters in the wee hours of July 20.