Public Works Department (PWD) today issued an order to prohibit goods ferrying trucks weighing over 30 tons to cross over Barak Bridge along the Imphal-Jiribam road.
N Noren PWD Additional Chief Engineer while talking to reporters at his office complex today said that the present limit of the Bailey bridge built across the Barak Bridge is only 24 ton. And as goods ferrying trucks weigh over 40 tons used to cross the Bailey bridge on daily basis. He said a crack has been noticed recently Suspender Clamp Central Expand of the bridge which is only available with the Garden Reach Company, Kolkata. As the part is not available at any parts of India and could not be easily procured from the manufacturing company the department has not left with any other option but to prevent crossing of vehicles weight over 30 tons.
It may be mentioned that the Imphal Jirbam stretch is the alternative route at the time of any kind of blockade along the Imphal Dimapur road which is very frequent. At a time when Hill based civil bodies called blockade goods ferrying trucks were allowed to bypass through this route by providing adequate security force. As the department has now prohibit crossing of goods ferrying truck weight over 30 tons the state is likely to face more trouble as blockades called in the line along the High Ways in the next couple of days.
Today too Interstate transporters had stopped plying on the National Highway due to the 48 hours blockade in the Naga Inhabited areas in Manipur demanding an alternative arrangement for Naga inhabited area outside the government of Manipur.
When asked about any government plan to upgrade the Bridge, Additional Chief Engineer N. Noren said that right at the moment the state government is not in the position to construct or upgrade the Bridge. He however said the state government has a long term plan of constructing a RCC Bridge.
