TDC denounces BRO move
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2012: The Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) has expressed strong disapproval over the BRO's appeal to the Government to ban movement of trucks on NH 37 from September 3 to 7 .

The BRO made this appeal in order to repair the worst degraded sections of the highway like Makru and Leingangpokpi portions.

Meanwhile, official sources informed that Imphal-Jiribam highway would be closed to traffic from September 3 to 7 to facilitate repairing work on the deteriorated potions of the highway.

Taking strong exception to the BRO's failure to provide even a few truck loads of shingles/stones just to make the worst affected portions passable for trucks, the TDC has piled up stones at Langjing parking .

It is reported that the TDC would take 50/60 truck loads of stones to NH 37 to repair the worst affected portions.

Denouncing the BRO's appeal to suspend movement of trucks on NH 37 in the name of the repairing the highway, TDC president H Ranjit said that the BRO was not ready to make even a short diversion road by laying a few truck loads of stones even though the highway remained impassable at some points.

Boulders stockpiled at Langjing Parking for repairing of NH-37.

On account of these highly worsened condition of the highway, security escorts who left Imphal on August 23 are yet to return till today.

Because of the highly deteriorated condition of the highway near Old Kaiphundai, around 200 loaded trucks remain stranded near Leingangpokpi diversion.

Though it would take just a day to make the broken down portion passable, the BRO is doing nothing as they have neither trucks, nor labourers or materials.

"When the BRO is unable to maintain a short diversion road properly, we don't have any faith in BRO that they would develop NH 37 to a standard highway in the foreseeable future.

Saying that the BRO was only resorting to delaying tactics by appealing to suspend movement of trucks for five days from September 3 to 7, Ranjit alleged that the BRO would not be able to repair the completely broken portions even if they are given 10 days for they have neither machines nor labour nor materials.

Everybody would have appreciated the BRO if they worked on the highway during the time available after empty trucks went past.

The way the BRO has been working on the highway is nothing short of condemning the highway to permanent disorder.

Seeking immediate attention of the State Government towards BRO's manner of working on the highway, the TDC president appealed to the authorities concerned to develop the highway before it gets more critical.

Reacting to the BRO's allegation of trucks carrying loads heavier than the specified weight, Ranjit said that it was the duty of the Government, not the BRO, to monitor weights of trucks and their loads.

The loaded trucks got stuck on the highway, not because of their weights but because the BRO could not develop it into a standard highway, Ranjit asserted.

Nevertheless, he appealed to all drivers and transporters not to carry extra loads in view of the Supreme Court's restriction and the highway's pitiable condition.

Even though the BRO is doing nothing to repair the completely broken portions, BRO would supply 50/60 truck loads of stones/boulders to repair the worst affected portions and the stones have been piled up at Langjing, he added.