Minister Govindas inspects accident prone bridge
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 09 2022:
Works minister Govindas Konthoujam inspected the bridge located between Chakhumai and Makhan villages along Imphal-Dimapur road where three trucks have fallen down in a span of one month and killed at least four drivers and helpers.
After inspecting the ongoing construction work at the railing-less bridge and the road nearby the bridge, Govindas Konthoujam gave strong instruction to officials of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for completing the work at the earliest.
After spotting the cement-loaded truck which fell down from the bridge on June 7 still lying at the spot, Govindas said that it was very unfortunate that three trucks have fallen down from the same bridge along a national highway road and killed several people in a span of one month.
Being an accident-prone area, installation of alert signs for drivers and speed breakers at the area have been taken up, he said, adding that steepness just before crossing the bridge from Mao side and sharp curve of the road are main factors for causing accident at the bridge.
According to minister Govindas, accident at the bride could be averted if the sharp curve of road just before crossing the bridge is straightened and NHIDCL had written to DC Senapati for land acquisition on hill side of the bridge as straightening the road requires land.
He also had a conversation in this regard with DC Senapati through mobile phone.
A proposal for construction of a new bridge has been made to the ministry and state government will also mount pressure on the Centre for approval of the same, he assured.
Govindas further said that construction works on the national highways in the state were earlier done by the state PWD but around 87 percent of construction works of NHs in the state has been taken over by NHIDCL from the PWD now.
However, NHIDCL cannot do whatever they like as all the national highways in the state's sector comes under the ambit of the government of Manipur, he said.
The minister further informed that the ministry concerned will be informed if construction works of NHIDCL were found unsatisfactory.
After NHIDCL project director Bulbulchandra Das informed that ongoing improvement works of the bridge and nearby road will be completed within 15 days, Govindas said the same team which inspected the bridge on Thursday will visit again within 15 days.