After Imphal-Dimapur highway, NH 37 too disconnected
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 25 2015: Now the State of Manipur is totally cut off from the rest of the country as far as transportation of goods is concerned.

While Imphal-Dimapur highway has been cut off by landslides at Phesama, Nagaland, wooden planks of Barak bridge whose total breadth is around 20 feet broke apart this afternoon when a heavy loaded truck began crossing the bridge.

Notably, loaded oil tankers which have been stranded at different places near Dimapur started moving towards Jiribam for proceeding towards Imphal this morning.

As it was said that it would take at least five/six days to repair the landslide affected portion of Imphal-Diampur highway, the loaded tankers stranded at Dimapur left for Jiribam today to proceed further towards Imphal.

It was planned to take a convoy of empty oil tankers up to Jiribam with security escorts who would then bring back loaded tankers arriving from Dimapur.

However, all these arrangements have been rendered futile after the Barak bridge which is one of the key bridges of Imphal-Jiribam highway became inaccessible.

Barak bridge now inaccessible from either side and the truck caught in between

At around 12.30 pm today, a cement-loaded truck moving from Jiribam towards Imphal hit the mid-portion of Barak bridge.

After that, the bridge became inaccessible from either side.

The total weight of the loaded truck is estimated to be above 40 tonnes while the total weight of loaded trucks permitted on Imphal-Jiribam highway as per the State gazette is just 24 tonnes.

Meanwhile, a team of IOC officials based at Imphal went to Phesama and inspected the landslide affected highway section.

According to one IOC official, BRTF has been working to re-open the highway and it is likely that the highway can be re-opened to light vehicles within the next three days.

But incessant rain has been hampering the highway repairing work.

It is still not clear when would the highway be re-opened to heavy vehicles.

With Barak bridge now inaccessible, it is also not clear whether loaded trucks which have started moving towards Jiribam would return to Dimapur or not.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Truck Owners Welfare Association, while noting that the Barak bridge was inaccessible for the third time since it was constructed, alleged that BRO has been treating the highway construction and maintenance work as a means of earning money only.

Speaking to media persons today, the association's president H Ranjit pointed out that Barak bridge was re-opened to vehicular traffic only on August 12 after it broke down for the second time.

After the arrival of loaded trucks at Imphal, empty trucks left for Jiribam on August 18 .

No heavy pressure is exerted on Barak bridge continuously.

Only 150/160 loaded trucks cross the bridge once in a week.

A vehicle can make only 3/4 trips between Imphal and Jiribam in a month.

Movement of trucks could not be a major factor for the break down of Barak bridge.

Loaded trucks left Jiribam for Imphal yesterday.

But wooden planks of the bridge whose total breadth is around 20 feet slipped away today which rendered the bridge inaccessible from either side.

The bridge broke down because BRO used sub-standard construction materials including steel and motor-railings, Ranjit alleged.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways should instruct the CBI or the Chief Vigilance Officer to investigate into how Barak bridge was constructed by BRO.

Ranjit asked if there is any bridge on the National Highways of India where the weight of trucks is restricted to 24 tonnes.

People of Manipur and transporters have been suffering because of constructing bridges without giving any thought to the qualitative aspect.

Transporters are bound by the Central Motor Vehicles Act and how many tonnes a truck can carry is clearly written in the vehicle registration documents.

Manipur would face a very difficult situation if both Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway remain cut off.

As such, the State Government should repair Barak bridge on war footing, Ranjit said.

The Manipur Truck Owners Welfare Association is prepared to extend both financial and physical assistance to repair the bridge if the Government asks for any aid, Ranjit.

He also urged the Government to send a team of PWD engineers to inspect and strengthen the old Barak bridge so that goods carriers can move along Imphal-Jiribam highway.