SHILLONG, April 13: As the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Assembly counts days to carry out its spot inspection of the reported fresh cracks on the newly constructed bailey bridge over Dwar Ksuid river, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has informed that vehicles were again allowed to ply on the bridge from Tuesday afternoon.
“The vehicles were allowed to ply after the repair work was completed at the bailey bridge. The vehicles have started plying from 3 pm onwards,” Tynsong told reporters.
He also informed that they have given clear instruction that the weight capacity should not exceed 40 metric tonnes.
“We have instructed the Superintendent of Ri Bhoi to take necessary measures to ensure that no overloaded trucks are allowed to ply on the bridge,” the minister said.
Tynsong also informed that Chief Secretary MS Rao will convene a review meeting on Wednesday to ensure that the bailey bridge functions smoothly.
He also clarified that the damage to the bridge was not due to the poor quality of construction, adding that the main reason was plying of overloaded trucks on the bridge.
It may be recalled that the Ri Bhoi DC, had earlier on Monday, issued an order prohibiting plying of vehicles on the bailey bridge after a technical defect was detected.
However, the order had specified that vehicles carrying 10 MT of load could, however, ply through the concrete Dwar Ksuid, Umroi bridge.
On the other hand, the PAC’s inspection is still due, for April 20.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had earlier patted its back for completing the bridge within 10 days, but in less than 20 days after the bridge was inaugurated, it developed cracks forcing the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to issue the order.
PAC member, Himalaya M Shangpliang, said that the Committee was concerned and dismayed over the development of cracks on the bridge in less than a month.
“The Committee would like to know how these cracks have developed on the bridge,” Shangpliang said, adding that the Additional Chief Secretary in charge of PWD (Roads), Director of BRO, Secretary and Chief Engineer of PWD, besides Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police have been asked to be present during the inspection of the bridge by the PAC team.
The BRO had constructed the bailey bridge, in what they claimed to be record time, in March after the original bridge sustained multiple damages last year.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, had inaugurated the bailey bridge on March 25.
Lambor for regulation
Chairman of the State Planning Board, Lambor Malngiang, meanwhile, has called for immediate regulation of vehicles along the Umiam dam citing fears that the dam will face the same fate as the Dwar Ksuid bridge.
Speaking to media persons here, Malngiang said that there should be regulation of vehicles or else the dam which connects Shillong with the rest of the country would also suffer damages.
Asking police and other concerned departments to be proactive in ensuring that the dam remains safe as it has gone past its life span, he called for measures to keep the dam safe.