Sanjenthong set for inauguration before Sangai Festival
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2015:
The much anticipated inauguration of Sanjenthong will take place between November 17 and20, ahead of the Manipur Sangai Festival.
PWD Bridge Division Additional Chief Engineer Khuraijam Temba told The Sangai Express that the old Sanjenthong which was more than 50 years old and now dismantled was made of prestressed concrete and it was a bridge of high quality.
Though it was a bridge of high quality, it could not cater to the ever increasing traffic volumes.
This ultimately necessitated construction of a modem, broader bridge.
Sometimes, it took more than 30 minutes to cross the old Sanjenthong which had just two lanes and +here were volumes of complaints from the public in this regard.
The Government studied different options to address the traffic bottleneck.
The possibility of widening the old bridge was also examined but certain weaknesses resulting from old age was seen in the structure of the bridge.
Finally, the Government decided to build a new bridge in its place.
In accordance to the Government's decision, a proposal
to the Ministry of DoNER.
As the amount which the Ministry was ready to sanction was not compatible with the project cost of the bridge, the Government approach the Ministry to sanction more funds.
The Ministry was approached to sanction more funds as the incumbent Chief Minister was determined to make the new Sanjenthong an architectural landmark of lmphal city, Temba said.
In the meantime, people's demand for construction of a new Sanjenthong was gaining momentum.
Take due note of the people's urgent desire, the State Government studied about starting the bridge con struclion work from the Stiilc budget.
The design of the new Sanjenthong was drawn by the Project Consulting India (P) Ltd Engineers and Planners, New Delhi.
After studying the design, the State Government sanctioned Rs 31.31 crore on March 3 last year.
Subsequently, Kolkata based Simplex Project Ltd was selected as the work agency through e-tender and the agency was intimated to start the bridge construction work on May 30 last year.
The Government wished to complete the bridge construction work as fast as possible and if possible before the last Sangai Festival.
Nonetheless, the work agency was given a period of one year for completion ol the construction work Now,it has been around one year mid six months since the con struction work started and it is on the verge of completion.
This completion period is quite short as compared to other bridges of 30 metres length built in the State, said the Addl CE.
It was quite a challenge to procure hangers for the bridge from outside India.
The 22 hangers used in the bridge were manufactured by Freefssinet Company of France.
The steel arches were manufactured at Kolkata.
Installation of the steel arches demanded certain technical expertise as they are inclined inward by 5.40 degree.
The new Sanjenthong now almost complete is a result of all the hard labour put in day in and day out mid all the strong words exchanged lie tween officials.
Chief Minister O Ibobi has been already invited to iriau gurate the bridge between November 17 and 20, Temba added.
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