Barak bridge ready to re-open this week
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 02 2015:
Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar on Wednesday said transportation over the Barak bridge can be restarted within the current week.
The repairing work on the bridge is nearing completion and that it will be ready by this week, the minister told journalists on the sidelines of an inspection visit to the bridge along National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) .
Dr Ratankumar also said the Barak Bailey bridge will be replaced by a RCC one soon and informed that there is a sanctioned plan for the construction.
The due process for starting the work is already in motion, he added.
During the visit the minister also met BRO officials and instructed them to expedite the bridge repairing work to ease the public woe on the highway which is one of the lifelines of Manipur.
Once, the RCC bridge is completed, a smooth traffic movement on the highway will be ensured, Dr Ratankumar said.
He said the existing Barak bridge cannot bear heavy loads which is a major hurdle to transporters.
The minister added that he would meet representatives of transporters' body and BRO to discuss the status of the bridge.
The Barak bridge at the moment can sustain only 24 tonnes of load.
Transporters & Drivers Council, Manipur member RK Doren, who was among the ministerial team, said the old bridge near the present Barak bridge can be restored and used.
He said if the authority gives the permission, the association will take up the renovation work on the old bridge to augment transportation facility on the highway.