IMPHAL, Dec 13: In the backdrop of the indefinite economic blockade being imposed on National Highways leading to Manipur, some quarters have raised strong suspicion about some elements deliberately scheming to make Imphal-Jiribam highway inaccessible to goods carriers and oil tankers.
Fearing collateral damages to civilians in the event of movement of trucks and oil tankers along Imphal-Dimapur highway with security escorts, the State Government has advised all transporters to take Imphal-Jiribam highway as far as possible. At the insistence of Chief Minister O Ibobi, majority of trucks and oil tankers shifted their route from Imphal-Dimapur highway to Imphal-Jiribam highway.
In the meantime, the BRO informed the State Government that Barak Bridge is no longer fit and that they would like to close the bridge to heavy vehicles for two days to repair the bridge on December 8 and 9. But the BRO’s intimation to the State Government evoked strong suspicion among some quarters, sources informed.
The purported breakdown of Barak Bridge was reported earlier too when the State was facing similar critical situations. Even though BRO first asked for two days time, the Barak Bridge was purportedly repaired within a couple of hours. This evoked a serious question whether BRO was acting in such erratic manner either under strong pressure from a major militant group or due to a political conspiracy.
It is also suspected that some people who are members of the incumbent Government were involved in politicising the highway, said the sources.
Source: The Sangai Express
