TDC urges CM to pressure BRO to repair Makru bridge
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2013: High-lighting that the Makru bridge on the Imphal-Jiribam road poses great threat to movement of loaded vehicles due to missing 'runners' on the bridge, Transporters and Drivers' council (TDC) has drawn the attention of the Chief Minister to advise BRO authorities to repair the defect without delay.

Speaking to newspersons at its MG Avenue office today, Council president H Ranjit cautioned that failure by either the BRO or the State Government to re-fix the missing components would completely cease transportation of goods on this highway stretch.

Conveying that in public interest TDC is willing to contribute its mite in restoring strength of the bridge if the BRO does not comply with the CM's directive or the Government of Manipur is incapable of rectifying the defects, he also accused the BRO of negligence which has left nearly 700 empty trucks stranded near another bridge at Sibilong area yesterday.

Makru bridge along Imphal-Jiri road

Contrary to stacking of some boulders/stones on the road diversion near the Sibilong bridge to facilitate movement of the vehicles, callousness of the BRO in carrying out such an easy task is causing great inconveniences to the transport operators, Ranjit contended.

Reiterating that the CM should prevail upon the BRO authorities to do the needful so that no disruption is caused to movement of goods carriers on the Imphal-Jiribam road, the Council president also confided that a TDC team went on an inspection visit of the said route a day ahead of the recent joint inspection visit by the Union Minister of State for Defence Jitendra and CM O Ibobi Singh from Nungba to Barak.

Pointing out that nearly 3-4 kilometres of the 19-km long Nungba-Barak stretch are still in deplorable condition, Ranjit claimed that the TDC delegation approaching BRO officials to repair a huge crater made by a loaded truck stuck in the dilapidated section of the Highway paved the way for the Ministerial team to cover the intended distance.

Upon arrival of the Ministerial team to Barak, TDC representatives already stationed there pointed to binding wires clutching the Barak bridge parts instead of clamps to grip the components subsequently resulting in the CM expressing resentment to the BRO officials, maintained Ranjit.

The fact that even vehicles carrying the Union Minister and the CM were stuck on the muddy portion and faced great difficulty in negotiating the highway stretch is a clear indication that BRO is not committed enough to develop the road, construed the Council president.

Informing that the TDC delegation proceeded towards Jiribam after the Ministerial team returned from barak, Ranjit said the highway stretch from Barak to Nung Dolan was found to be in the worst possible condition.

Taking into account hardships faced by the common people due to shortage of transport fuel and LPG consequent to sinking of a road section along the Imphal-Dimapur route, he further stated that the TDC delegation accompanied about 103 fuel and LPG loaded vehicles from Jiribam on July 23 till their safe arrival here.

Claiming that ahead and on the day of the Ministerial team's visit BRO personnel could be spotted in abundance on the intended route, Ranjit desired that the same committed be displayed by the BRO authorities for the sake of the people of Manipur.