Rusted iron used for bridge repair

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 19

The repairing work of Barak bridge located at Purul road has been completed yesterday and goods laden trucks including petroleum tankers started crossing the bridge. It is reported that one iron bar of the bridge broke and twisted while the trucks were crossing the bridge.

According to the source the replaced iron bar was taken out from the old Barak bridge which is adjacent to the new Barak bridge. The bridge was commissioned in 2012 and handed to the public on 2015. It may be mentioned that the old bridge was constructed during the colonial rule.

According to one of a truck drivers, K. Prem said the new Barak bridge has been facing technical problems since the beginning and by replacing the iron bar from the old bridge which is almost rusty and weak, the repaired could not last long.

The bridge repairing work was done under Bhartia Infra Project Limited (BIPL) project.

Nabakishore Sharma, engineer who was involved in the repairing work said, the problem on of bridge is due to passing of trucks loaded more than the permissible weight. If the loads are checked by police personnel the damage on the bridge might not happen, he said.

The bridge contains full technical criteria and if the loaded trucks crossed the bridge with not more than 24 tons which is the capacity of the bridge then it will not be damaged, Nabakishore maintained.

According to another truck driver, S. Pakka said new Barak bridge and Maku bridge were constructed almost the same time. Maku bridge is not affected yet but Barak bridge is having problem frequently though same loaded trucks passed both the bridge.

When the drivers asked why the iron bar is replaced from the old one, the engineer replied that GRIP company who has done the repairing work before has taken all the repairing materials for the welfare of the transporters, Pakka added.

“If repairing work is done like this how we can cross the bridge with a safer mind,” he added.