Works Minister inspects bridges on NH-37
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2014: Works and Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar inspected the conditions of Irang bridge, Barak bridge and Makru bridge along Imphal-Jiribam highway on June 7 .

During the field inspection tour, Dr Ratankumar asked BRTF 2nd in Command and Executive Engineer PK Singh to begin construction of two bridges which would be used as replacement for Makru and Barak bridges temporarily before these bridges are constructed anew with RCC.

The Works Minister's team also included Additional Chief Engineer Kh Temba, SE (NH) M Hemanta, EE Jiribam N Sadananda and EE (NH Div-3) Devendro.

The team also conducted a field assessment of the approach road work for the railway project at Uchathol.

Later speaking to media persons at the Jiribam guest house in the evening, BRTF EE PK Singh claimed that black-topping work along Imphal-Jiribam highway has been completed by almost 70 per cent.

Works Minister Dr Ratan inspecting a bridge

At present, surface levelling work is going on between Irang and Barak while at other portions WBM work is going on.

Black topping has been completed from 96 Kms milestone to 101.5 Kms.

Laying of WBM base layer is now complete from 101.5 Kms to 106 Kms.

Black topping work from 122 Kms (Nungba) to 125.3 Kms has also been completed, said the Executive Engineer while asserting that the highway development work can be fully completed in the next 18 months, if not within a year.

Foundation for Irang RCC bridge is now under construction and NIT has been already approached to test soil bearing capacity on the side of Jiribam.

But NIT rejected the offer.

As such, the work of soil testing would be outsourced.

Foundation work for the temporary bailey bridge which would serve as replacement for the Barak bridge is also underway.

The bridge can be completed by the second week of August.

Makru bridge can be completed by the end of September, PK Singh said.

PWD Additional Chief Engineer Kh Temba said that the Irang RCC bridge would have the bearing capacity of 70 tonnes even though Barak and Makru bridges would have bearing capacity of only 40 tonnes.

He also urged the BRTF engineers to make the crust of road surfaces fully solidified and smooth before black topping.

Dr Kh Ratankumar said that the highway has improved considerably as compared to what he observed during his previous inspection visit.

The Makru-Jiri section has improved significantly.

There are many potholes on the highway section from Makru to Imphal even though larger portions of this section have been black topped.

BRTF officials have been directed to fill up and repair these potholes.

Construction of bailey bridges at Makru and Barak should be completed within the stipulated periods.

As for the 7.5 Kms long approach leading to the railway project at Uchathol, laying of shingles and WBM have been completed.

On Sunday, the Minister made a spot assessment of the area of 8.87 acres identified for construction of an Inter-State Truck Terminus at the cost of Rs 25 crore under NEC's 12th Plan.

The plot which currently serves as ISTT would be transformed into Transport Office once the ISTT is shifted to the new site.