Transporters body demands probe into bridge collapse

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 15

Alleging negligence the reason behind the collapsed of a bailey bridge at Nung Dolan along National Highway 37 on Monday, Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) has demanded the state government to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident.

The TDC also demanded compensation for the ill fated truck that felt under the bridge following the collapsed of the bridge.

Speaking to media persons in this regards, H. Ranjit president TDC, said the bailey falls under the jurisdiction of the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), who gave away the contract for constructing the bridge to private company.

Pointing out that the bridge was constructed in year 2012, he contended that the tragedy could have been averted had the authority concerned does the maintenance work regularly.

Alleging negligence the main reason behind the bridge collapsed, the TDC president appealed to the government to constitute a probe into the incident and take action against the concerned authority.

He maintained that the NHIDCL and Government of India should be held responsible for the lost inflicted to the truck.

The president clarified that the collapsed of the bridge was not the fault of the transporter as alleged by some section.

According to him, as per directive of the High Court of Manipur, the Highway Administration, Guwahati, load restriction was put over three bridges namely Irang, Barak an Makru, but not on the ill fated bridge.

He further contended that the 24 MT limit (including weigh of the vehicles) put on bridges along the Barak was in contradiction to the CMV guidelines which says 40 MT.