Foundation stone for bridge over Barak river
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Jiribam, April 29 2015 : Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a bailey bridge to be constructed over the Barak river.

It will connect Churachandpur district's Tipaimukh Block with Vangai Range.

Tipaimukh constituency MLA and Hill Areas Committee chairman Dr Chaltolien Amo, PWD Additional Chief Engineer Ch Tiken, Superintending Engineer M Hemanta, Executive Engineer (NEC) K Premkumar, Executive Engineer, Jiribam, N Sadananda and other staff members of the department were also present on the occasion, reported Jiri News Network on Wednesday.

Pastor Rev Vanlavrot Joute, Parbung SDO Shyamsundar Sharma local leaders and a number of villagers also attended the function.

Ratankumar unveiling the foundation stone

The total length of the bailey bridge will be 400 ft and it is estimated to cost is Rs 3.5 crore.

After laying the foundation stone, chief guest of the function Dr Ratankumar in his speech said that the bailey bridge will connect National Highway-2, formerly NH-150 with Jiri-Tipaimukh road (JT road) .

He said this bridge will facilitate smooth movement for the villagers of Parbung and Vangai Range areas.

The minister said that people from Parbung can open up their business activities in Jiribam and Silchar by passing through the JT road, which will be a shorter way, after completion of the bridge.

Dr Ratankumar informed that improvement of approach roads for the bridge is to be taken up under the PWD and PMGSY.

But he assured that the Chief Minister would be consulted to explore ways to get fund from Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and North Eastern Council (NEC) for improvement of these approach roads.

MLA Dr Chaltonlien Amo said people of Vangai range and Parbung will get immense benefit from the bailey bridge and that they will see a new ray of hope after the construction is finished.

Suspender clamp develops 'crack' .

The suspender clamp of the Barak bridge along Imphal-Jiribam road has developed a crack and so all drivers are informed not to carry load weighing more than 30 ton while crossing the bridge, PWD Additional Chief Engineer N Loken said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters in his office in PWD office, N Loken also informed that the bailey bridge over the Barak river was constructed for temporary use only.

He said trucks carrying loads weighing 40 ton each have been regularly crossing the bridge.

As a result the bridge has grown weaker every day and that the suspender clamp has developed the crack.

Loken said that the actual capacity load that this bridge can bear with is only 24 ton.

However, the Additional Chief Engineer urged all vehicles not to pass the bridge by carrying more than 30 ton each.

He cautioned that the Imphal-Jiribam road, a lifeline of Manipur, would be impassable for weeks, even months if the current bailey bridge collapses because of the cracked clip.