IMPHAL, September 1: The Transporters and Drivers Council, president H Ranjit today said that the council has learnt from reliable sources that the Border Roads organization, BRO has appealed to the state government not to let any vehicles cross the National Highway 37 from September 3 to 7 so that it could work on the highway condition.
The TDC today claimed that such acts of the BRO are against the welfare of the transporters and the state.
Speaking to media persons during a press meet at the TDC Imphal office, the president said that the last batch of escorts that had accompanied vehicles along the highway on August 23 are yet to return which could be because of the deplorable road condition at Leingangpokpi, Golarthol and old Kaikhundai areas.
He further questioned that when the BRO had failed to improve the road condition for so long, how can they complete the same maintenance work in just five days.
He lamented that the BRO instead of working to improve the road condition has blamed overloaded trucks for the road condition.
H Ranjit said that the weight and measurement of the trucks are to be checked and controlled by the Government and hence it is unethical to blame the truckers.
He said that the BRO somehow had managed to block the highway for the month of August and added that they are trying to do the same for this month also.
TDC blamed BRO that they are more into buying time and is actually working against the interest of the people of Manipur.
H Ranjit said that the BRO should let empty trucks drive in and while they are loading their trucks the BRO can work along the highway.
He further expressed that bridges along the highway are old and rusted and need repairing and added that during a recent incident of a bridge breakdown at Nungdolan area, the drivers had to used wooden logs to cross the bridge.
He continued that if the BRO is serious to maintain the road then it has ample time to carry out, however it seems they are acting the other way round.
He lamented that the state government has maintained stoic silence over the matter of the highway.
He further appealed to the state government to look into the matter at the earliest and pressurize the concern authorities.
Meanwhile, coming to the issue of illegal immigrants, Ranjit further said that if any driver is found transporting migrants illegally in to the state then possible action will be taken u against the responsible person/driver.
President TDC further stated that they have already started stocking stones as an initiative to maintain the road condition as they find it that the BRO could not maintain the condition of NH 37.