Sanjenthong likely to miss June deadline
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2015 : Sanjenthong is not likely to meet the deadline of June 6, set by Simplex Project Pvt Ltd in March this year.

When this reporter visited the work site today, only 30 labourers were found engaged in the construction work with no presence of officials concerned.

It may be mentioned that when Chief Minister Okram Ibobi visited the work site on March 19 this year, a PWD official told The Sangai Express that Simplex Project Pvt Ltd had set a deadline of June 6 to complete the important bridge which connects Imphal East and Imphal West.

On the other hand, on January 7 this year, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga told reporters that the bridge would be ready by April/May.

Sanjenthong still under construction

On different occasions, various Government representatives including the Chief Minister, Works Minister and high ranking officials had assured to open the bridge to traffic soon considering the inconvenience faced by the general public due to the prolonged closure of the bridge.

While speaking at the inauguration function of Thumbuthong in November last year, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that important material components of the bridge including metallic hangers were procured from France and completion of the bridge was delayed due to non-arrival of these materials.

Although, some materials procured from abroad had already reached the work site, some other important components are yet to arrive at the State capital.

Talking to The Sangai Express over the phone, a senior official of PWD said that some more metallic hangers have reached Kolkata and these materials would be brought to Imphal within a few days.

As such, the bridge is likely to be ready for opening to traffic by July end, he said.

Talking to this reporter at the construction site, a senior citizen, identified as Kh Tombi said that people have been facing lots of inconveniences since the old Sanjenthong bridge was pulled down.

The Government has been extending the deadline from time to time although they had assured to complete the bridge by December last year.

He said that the State Government must instruct the work agency to speed up construction considering the problems faced by the general public.