NH-53 continues to haunt drivers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16 2011: With Imphal-Jiribam section of NH 53 lying in the most deplorable condition without any improvement all these years, drivers are taking great pains in bringing essential commodities including petrol and diesel along the highway.

Some transporters informed The Sangai Express that the condition of the highway is worst at Khongshang and Kambiron.

With the wheels buried fully in the slushy road and the bumper coming in contact with the road, drivers have to struggle with all their strength and skills to cross these sections.

However, no BRO labourer are stationed at these places.

Neither is there any dozer or excavator.

13 petrol TTs, 12 diesel TTs, 13 LPG bullets and three SK oil TTs which left Jiribam on August 14 reached Awangkhul late this evening.

The vehicles could reach Awangkhul only this evening as one truck got partially buried and could not get out of the slushy portion, thereby blocking way for the TTs and other vehicles.

The truck was pulled out only today.

A stretch of NH-53 which is a nightmare for the drivers

Counting the TTs and other goods laden trucks, a total of 358 trucks heading towards Imphal from Jiribam would assemble together at Awangkhul.

From there, they would be provided fool-proof security and they may head for Imphal on August 17 .

Meanwhile, it is reported that the nodal officer assigned to submit reports on the condition of NH-53 twice every month has not submitted any report for the month of August till date.

On the other hand, information received from Public Works Department said that the relevant Executive Engineer had conducted a field assessment of the condition of NH-53, and that a due report would be submitted soon.

Despite the pathetic condition of the highway, another 21 oil tankers have reached Jiribam via Silchar for further journey to Imphal.

The 21 oil tankers include six petrol TTs, 13 diesel TTs and two ATF TTs.

Among the petrol TTs are three TTs of 20 Kl capacity.

The remaining three petrol TTs are of 12 Kl capacity.

Diesel TTs include four tankers of 20 Kl capacity.

The escort party which would escort vehicles from Awangkhul on August 17 would again escort empty trucks till Jiribam.

As the same escort team would escort loaded vehicles from Jiribam to Imphal, it may take almost 10 days to reach Imphal for the vehicles which reached Jiribam on Aug 16 .