IMPHAL, September 27: The arrival of the five day long Durga Puja starting from October 1 and Idul Juha on October 6 has severely affected progress of the ongoing construction work of a new Sanjenthong.
Most labourers have left the work site to visit their homes during the festive season affecting the ongoing construction work which had been undertaken on a war footing for the past 129 days.
During a spot inspection, the IFP found that most engineers, other officials and technicians of the work implementing agency m/s Simplex K Company pvt ltd were also absent from the work site.
The labourers supposed to be working on the main construction unit of the bridge were also nowhere to be seen.
The only visible signs of any construction work were the use of an excavator to level stone chips on the Babupara side of the bridge and unloading of rock boulders from a truck on the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry dept side. A few labourers were also seen cutting iron bars.
During the spot inspection, it was also witness that the bottom chords for the below portion of the under-construction bridge which were brought in from outside the State were yet to be laid, since finishing touches on the 22 pillars erected on each side of the bridge were yet to be completed.
Dismantling work of the old Sanjenthong was also just about 60 percent complete.
Senior officials of the State Public Works Department said engineers, technicians and labourers have taken leave to go home on account of Durga Puja and Idul Juha, which is why the work site wears a deserted look.
They will however, return to the worksite on October 7, they said.
The entire construction comes under the supervision of the State PWD although a separate implementing agency has been engaged for the construction work.
Construction work of the bridge will be on full-swing again on October 7 when the labourers and engineers are supposed to return, the PWD officials assured.
It is also learnt that the implementing agency has assured to bring 40 skill labourers for the construction work and that even places for them to stay have already been spotted.
The officials have also asserted that laying of foundation of the bridge which is the most important part is almost complete. The steel girder, bottom chord and shear connectors which are to be placed above the foundation have also reached the State. However, the entire components including around 3300 screws for the bridge are 14 truckloads of which eight trucks have reached Imphal.
The part of the old bridge which is yet to be dismantled is to be cut off and brought down using a crane to be brought in from Guwahati, the officials informed.
The crane weighing 70 tonnes is being brought in a truck and already on the way, they said.
The rental of the crane is Rs 1.50 lakh, informed an official while adding that the stone chips being laid at the river banks is to enable the crane to reach the construction site.
Hindu labourers have already left for the Durga Puja, those still remaining at the work site now are muslims and they would also be leaving for Idul Juha, the official informed.
It may be mentioned that the government has already announced that the construction of the all-important bridge will be completed before the Sangai Festival which was held in November last year.