War-era bridges amid uniform development rhetoric
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 12, 2022 -

IT'S rather disheartening to learn that collapse of a single Bailey bridge, which was constructed over the Tuivai river along the Guite Road (NH-150 A), has totally cut off surface communication and food supplies to the interior parts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.

Bailey bridges had been the most reliable structure of transportation since the pre-World War era and they continue to serve as an important link in remote parts of border states.

These war-era bridges remain the hallmark structures in different border districts of Manipur as the authorities consider construction of large RCC bridges as economically untenable due to limited traffic of commercial goods.

However, for people living in many far flung villages bailey and suspension bridges have been serving as the main lifelines for supply of essential items as well as a means of regular commuting.

As such lack of government's initiative towards repairing or newly constructing a similar or better structure days after the damage caused to the Bailey bridge is bound to infuriate the affected population.

They also have every reason to question the government authorities' consistent claim that there will be uniform development in the state.

Any further procedural delay to restore the transport communication will naturally lead to suspicion that the government is valley-centric as had been the narrative for the past many decades.

With reports suggesting that villagers who used to depend solely on the Bailey bridge are staring at famine-like situation due to complete stoppage of food supply from Churachandpur town, the government needs to address grievances of the affected villages before the situation turns grave.

On his part, Thanlon MLA Vungzagin Valte has done the spadework by apprising district and NHIDCL officials on Tuesday about plight of the denizens in the interior parts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.

In view of the MLA putting the blame partly on road project implementing agency NHIDCL on the ground that operation of heavily loaded Vehicles weakened the bridge before it caved in, it is high time that either NHIDCL initiate re-installation of the Bailey bridge or propose construction of a new firmer structure.

Though the latter option seems infeasible as it would entail additional fund utilisation, the work agency would definitely remain in the good books of the affected local population if its officials uphold MLA Vungzagin's proposal of constructing a Bailey bridge over the Tuivai river before June 30 for use till completion of the under-construction RCC bridge.

Like it or not, in Manipur elected people's representatives are not known for their active involvement in public welfare activities as they seem to be living under the impression that chalking up strategies to garner highest number of votes or getting nominated is more important than anything else.

However, in this case, MLA Vungzagin has shown his commitment to everything possible to live up to the people's expectation.

As installation of Bailey bridges generally revolves around assembling of the bridge components and laying the completed one within short notice, it is hoped that the NHIDCL officials will accord importance towards mitigating hardships of the people in distress, which would also help the work agency in establishing cordial ties with the local population.