'BRO SE preventing stranded vehicles'
TDC questions silence of Chief Minister, Works Minister
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 28 2012:
Asserting that it had repeatedly brought to the notice of the state government over slow progress of work being taken up by BRO along NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road), Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC), Manipur has questioned the motive behind the silence of the Chief Minister and the Works Minister over the issue.
Addressing a press meet at Hotel Leisna at MG Avenue here today, President of TDC H Ranjit said that more than 700 goods laden trucks are remaining stranded along NH 37 due to poor condition of the two diversion routes from the bridges at Gulardhan and Leingangpokpi.
Instead of repairing the detour routes, SE (Civil) of BRO Bimal Goswami communicated to OC Jiribam PS and Chief Secretary to restrict movement of vehicles along NH-37 and send them through NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur Road).
Goswami also told the OC and Chief Secretary that the law and order situation is not good along NH-37 and vehicles with excess goods have become a major setback in the progress of repairing the highway, Ranjit disclosed, while alleging that Goswami is intentionally trying to divert the transporters through NH-2 .
Ranjit questioned why the government is keeping silence over the matter and acting to the instruction of Goswami, who is a mere contractor.
"Goswami has no authority to instruct transporters and government authorities to refrain from using the highway.
If BRO is unable to carry out the repairing work, then they should surrender so that the government can make an alternative arrangement",
Ranjit demanded.
Everyone knows that BRO does not have enough machines and vehicles to carry out the repairing work.
They should be sacked and hand over the work to the Military Engineering Department for speedy repairing work along the highway, he suggested.
Instead of speeding up the work, BRO has been wasting public money by taking too much time, Ranjit alleged, and appealed to the state government to make an arrangement for bringing back the stranded vehicles.