Bir Tikendrajit Flyover sunken
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 15 2013: The landmark Bir Tikendrajit Flyover, built at a staggering amount of Rs.249.30 crores in the heart of Imphal City, has been found depressed along with formation of large holes near the foot of the bridge as a result of improper earth-filling of trenches excavated during the process of laying pipelines for Imphal Sewerage Project being implemented with technical assistance from France.

The depressed portion of the Flyover lies on Uripok side near Cheirap Court Complex.

The depression in the form of a large hole started appearing at around 2 pm today, President of Apunba Tengbang Marup, Uripok Mutum Karnajit told Hueiyen Lanpao.

The hole measuring 3.5 feet in diameter and about 2 feet in depth was formed at the foot of the flyover right in the middle of the lane.

The hole has been kept encircled with sticks and volunteers of Apunba Tengbang Marup have been kept vigilant to prevent vehicles from falling into it.

Bir Tikendrajit Flyover sunken

Moreover, the flyover has been found depressed by about two inches, which can be noticed easily from the railings.

The RCC path on the side of flyover near Cheirap Court was also found sunken by about two inches.

The State Government has spent crores of rupees in developing the road.

The exact cause for the depression and formation of holes near the foot of the flyover cannot be ascertained.

However, President of Apunba Tengbang Marup Mutum Karnajit is of the view that large holes are formed neat the flyover as a result of improper earth-filling during the process of laying pipelines for Imphal Sewerage Project.

Large trenches measuring more than 15 feet in depth were excavated along the roads to fix pipelines for the Sewerage Project.

Later, the roads were blacktopped by filling up the trenches.

However, improper earth-filling has resulted in the depression of the roads as well as the flyover.

The President further said that the locals would dig up the road if the authorities concerned do not mend the depressed portion of the flyover within five days.

The work has to be done by the officials by maintaining utmost quality with due consultation with the members of Apunba Tengbang Lup, he averred.

It may be mentioned that the Bir Tikendrajit Flyover was constructed by National Building Construction Corporation with MAHUD as the nodal agency.

The Flyover was inaugurated by the then Governor of Manipur Dr SS Sidhu on November 30, 2007 .

On the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had promised that the flyover was the beginning in the transformation of Imphal into a modern and model city.