BRO trying to aggravate inflation issue in State: TDC
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 16 2013:
The Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) has alleged that the Director General of Border Road Organization (BRO) Lt General AT Parnaik had secretly written a letter to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to suspend vehicular movement along National Highway No.37 (Imphal-Jiri Road) with a motive of raising the level of inflation in the State.
Addressing media persons at the office of TDC at MG Avenue here today, President of TDC H Ranjit said that the BRO has been entrusted with the task of developing the deplorable NH-37, but it has not been able to make much progress.
The BRO had requested the Ministry to suspend vehicular movement along NH-37 instead of expediting the works, he noted.
Chief Secy and Principal Secy of the State had copies of the letter written by the BRO Chief to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, but they had not informed the Dept concerned of the State, Ranjit claimed.
He further said that the BRO had submitted a false report to the Ministry regarding overloads carried by the trucks along NH-37 .
The President clarified that the trucks have never carried goods beyond the permitted load.
The false report of the BRO is just a ploy to hinder transportation of goods to the States.
The engineers of BRO have not been able to install hanging clams at the bridges over Makru and Barak River.
The bridges are just tied up with strings thereby creating problems to the transporters, he averred.
Ranjit further maintained that TDC has spent over Rs.70 lakhs in repairing the
deplorable NH-37 .
The Council still holds its earlier decision not to ply along NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and so those transporters plying along NH-2 should be held responsible if any untoward incident happens on this vulnerable route.
The TDC would leave no stone unturned in developing the NH-37 which serves as a major lifeline of the State, he asserted.
The drivers and transporters have also urged the State authorities to look after the deplorable highway, and demanded the BRO to leave the State if it is unable to develop NH-37 as soon as possible.