Landowners dig up bridge link road
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, October 08 2023:
In a startling incident, landowners dug up the road connecting the newly constructed Bailey Bridge over the Barak River at Koide Biisho.
Despite assurances from the PWD chief engineer during his visit to the site that private land affected or utilised for the road would be compensated for, the landowners resorted to such behaviour on the route leading to the diversion bridge, which was recently dedicated to public passengers.
The landowners' action was halted, however, due to swift intervention by the Maram-Phaibung Road Development Association, to provide some time for response from the department concerned.
It should be noted that the Barak Bailey Bridge collapsed on November 22 last year, and the newly constructed diversion bridge became operational on September 8 this year.
According to a report from the Maram-Phaibung Road Development Association, about half of the road had been closed off by the landowners near the bridge due to sheer negligence on the part of the department concerned.
The present condition of road is fit only for light cars.
Members of the group, commuters, and majority of the Poumai Naga community whose lives are dependent on the bridge, have asked the relevant authorities to intervene as quickly as possible.
With the rainy season still active and the river's water level rising, another roadblock along the path is not ruled out if agreed positions are not reached as soon as possible.