Potholes play havoc
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2018:
Large potholes which fill Imphal-Jiribam highway at different places have been playing havoc to drivers particularly heavy vehicles drivers.
On the other hand, construction of Makru and Barak bridges has made little progress.
Very often, accidents happen at different points of the 222 Kms long highway as thanks to the large potholes.
After NHIDCL took over the responsibility of Imphal- Jiribam highway from BRO, the work of constructing and maintaining the highway was entrusted to HVS Construction Limited, Nidhi Creative Infrastructure and Bharatiya Infra Private Limited since last year.
This reporter travelled along the highway a few days back and it was found that the Jiribam-Barak Bridge section are filled with potholes, much to the inconvenience of drivers.
There are several instances of vehicles ramming into hill sides or skidding into gorges while attempting to negotiate these potholes.
Moreover, these potholes have been severely impeding traffic flpw as the vehicles have to slow down while negotiating these potholes.
Even though villagers settled along the highway have filled up some potholes, the condition of the highway is worse near the Barak Bridge.
The number of potholes is considerably lesser on Barak Bridge-Noney section.
Even though Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stones for new Barak Bridge and Makru Bridge on December 11, 2016, the construction works have made little progress.
They are still at the stage of boring piles.
The construction works have been hampered as one UG group served monetary demand and abducted officials engaged in the same work, said a source.
Trucks particularly loaded ones have to wait for hours for their turn to cross the existing Barak and Makru bridges as no two trucks can cross these bridges at a single go .