By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 8: The state government spent Rs 11,68,04,677 crore in strengthening the structure of the Umiam bridge, this was the answer to an unstarred question in the House.
The bridge that is a major lifeline for the state had recently undergone massive repair and retrofitting work after concerns were raised from several quarters including the elected representatives on the safety of the bridge built in the 1960s by the Assam Electricity Board.
The voices echoed from the streets to the corridors of power finally prompting the state to start acting before any disaster struck.
Initiated on December 14, 2023, based on recommendations from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati, the repair efforts were initially slated for completion within 4-5 months.
However, the work continued to face prolonged delays in its retrofitting and maintenance work.
The delays disrupted travel patterns for months causing huge traffic jams on both sides of the bridge. Even as slowly as the work progressed, one-way traffic was implemented in rotation extending the wait to hours.
Alternative routes via Shillong airport and NEIGRIHMS have been suggested. Albeit these routes are currently in poor condition adding an extra hour to travel times due to narrow roads passing through numerous villages.
In July 2024, the power minister announced the completion of the work and that another 20 years had been added to the lifespan of the bridge.
While traffic was opened both ways weight restriction was in place and no heavy vehicles were allowed to ply on the bridge. Taking further steps to cement the restrictions and ensure no heavy vehicles cross the bridge a permanent barrier was put up on the entry on both sides of the bridge.
