IT News
Imphal, Aug 19:
A newly constructed bridge in Bishnupur district has become a symbol of substandard construction practices after a 30-foot section of its retaining wall collapsed early this morning. The incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on the northern side of the approach road to the bridge over the Thongjaorok River, situated between Khoijuman and Kwashiphai villages. The bridge, along with the retaining wall, was completed just two months ago and has now tumbled into a nearby crop field, raising serious concerns about the quality of the construction.
Local residents have expressed their outrage, attributing the collapse to a failure to maintain construction quality. Villagers allege that the retaining wall was constructed without the proper foundation as mandated in the work order, leading to its rapid deterioration. “The quality was so poor that the structure barely lasted two months before failing,” a local villager remarked, reflecting widespread frustration over the issue.
The collapse has had immediate and tangible consequences, with debris from the fallen wall destroying crops in a field belonging to Sanjenbam Robindro Singh of Khoijuman Maning Leikai Ward No. 1. The field was buried under the rubble, resulting in significant agricultural losses.
The bridge and its retaining wall were part of a project funded by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The construction was carried out by M/S NDS Construction and overseen by the Executive Engineer of PIU-II (BPR) under the Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA). Despite the high-profile nature of the project, the collapse has cast a shadow over the quality control and oversight mechanisms in place during its execution.
Further compounding concerns, a long crack has appeared along the remaining portion of the retaining wall, indicating the potential for more sections to collapse. This has heightened fears among local commuters who use the bridge daily, prompting urgent calls for authorities to investigate and address the structural deficiencies before a more serious incident occurs.
