IMPHAL, November 27: The newly completed Barak Bridge situated along the National Highway 37 Imphal-Jiribam road became operational from today.
As a trial run all loaded trucks coming from Jiribam crossed the newly completed bridge.
The Barak Bridge considered to be one of the most important bridges along the NH-37 has been constructed by the 83 RCC BRTF Rengpang.
Although the bridge was completed few months back and made operational, it was closed shortly after it was press into service, following a technical snag.
Meanwhile, a press meet was also conducted by truckers today at the Manipur Press club lamenting the condition of the highway.
Speaking to media persons, secretary of the Highway Truck Owner`™s Welfare Organisation (HITWO), Laishram Ratan Khuman, demanded the Government to change the name of the NH-37 to Manipur Local road, dropping the grand National Highway tag, if it has no intention of developing the road.
He said that Erang, Makru and Barak bridges are important sections of the Highway, yet they remain most unreliable.
Not only the bridges, the approach road to the bridges (from both ends) are also in deplorable conditions he continued adding that the 6km stretch from Makru towards Jiribam are really pathetic that mounds of earth as much as two feet high form during the dry season and large pools of mud in monsoon season.
The HITWO secretary revealed that in collaboration with Manipur Driver`™s Welfare Organisation (MDWO) it conducted an inspection of the road along with a team of media on November 7 and on their return on November 14, a memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister with regards to the condition of the road.
A copy of the memorandum was also sent to Union Home Minister, Defence Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Chief Minister of Manipur, Works Minister DG BRO, Project Puspak and 765 BRTF, he added.
In response to the memorandum, a superintending engineer from the Ministry of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, came to Manipur and inspected the road on November 22, he claimed.
It further drew the attention of various section of society CSOs, students`™ organisation etc to pressure the Government to develop the road which is one of the lifelines of the state.
It alleged that in 1998-99 the Union Government had sanction a sum of Rs. 41 crore to the BRO for developing the road and bridges along of the NH-37 yet no visible work is seen till date.
Under the given circumstances the two transport bodies lost faith in the BRO it said, adding that it demand the work to hand it over to PWD of Manipur.
A memorandum with regards to the demand will be submitted to the Prime Minister during his visit in Imphal, said HITWO general secretary.