Barak bridge clamps snap raising risks
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2014: Trans-porters operating along Imphal-Jiribam highway, particularly loaded trucks are now facing a risky situation as same clamps of Barak bridge have snapped.

It is not even one month back that Makru bridge was made fit for loaded trucks after it was repaired by TDC with considerable assistance from the State Government.

Some transporters who crossed the bridge and reached Imphal today told The Sangai Express that some loaded trucks were crossing the bridge when some of its hanging clamps snapped suddenly at around 1 pm yesterday forcing the trucks to turn back.

It was only after BRO replaced some of snapped clamps that the loaded truck started crossing the bridge late in the evening.

A file pic of the clamps at Barak bridge

As it became dark and late, security forces after making an assessment of the vulnerable condition of the bridge prevented heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge.

Again when trucks started crossing the bridge this morning, most of the newly replaced hanging clamps got snapped.

Immediately all vehicles were barred from crossing the bridge.

BRO again replaced the clamps which they replaced yesterday.

Then the bridge was opened to heavy vehicles late morning.

Fearing the worst, the loaded trucks moved very slowly until they crossed the bridge, said the transporters.

The newly replaced hanging clamps snapped very quickly because the new clamps used by BRO were of sub-standard quality.

To avoid such a risky situation, the Government of Manipur need to give strict instruction to BRO, they said.

Notably, the media team which covered the repairing of Makru bridge recently also inspected the condition of Barak bridge.

The team saw many runners (wooden planks) of the bridge missing and some of the wooden planks were quite old and worn out.

The existing condition is that transporters would face a grave situation if the worn out wooden planks and missing runners of the bridge are not replaced before monsoon season sets in.