IMPHAL, April 30: The Manipur Trucks Owner Welfare Association has demanded a CBI investigation over the Barak Bridge construction.
Speaking to media persons at the office of the Truck Drivers`™ Council at Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, MTOWA president H Ranjit said additional chief engineer (I) Nongmaithem Noren has restricted trucks loaded above 40MT from crossing the Barak Bridge since yesterday.
The construction of the bridge was completed in November 2014 and inaugurated in the same month and how is it possible that the clams of the bridge have started to snap, he demanded.
He queried whether quality was not properly maintained during the construction of the bridge or BRTF constructed bridge are of third class quality.
Ranjit also questioned the State PWD`™s silence during the construction of the bridge and further demanded that the PWD must initiate steps to invite a CBI investigation.
He continued heavy vehicles don`™t cross the bridge everyday, but just twice or so a week.
The NH 37 is under BRTF and not under the control of the State PWD control and so officials of the PWD should not be the voice of the BRTF, he continued.
He said if the Barak Bridge is truly about to snap or fall, than the MTOWA will invite fresh tenders from experts who could repair the bridge and the association will bear all cost.
Ranjit also said that report of the clams of the bridge snapping is a misleading report and could only give more advantage to the business section of the society.