SHILLONG, Jan 29: The state government has told the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately start the repairing work on the Sonapur bridge, which had developed
cracks earlier this month.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that a meeting was recently held with the project director of NHAI, during which instructions were given to the latter to start the repairing work on the bridge without delay.
Tynsong also said that restrictions on vehicular movement to ensure that work on the bridge is not hindered would also be announced by the district administration.
Earlier this month, a team of experts from NHAI had inspected the Sonapur bridge in East Jaintia Hills after it developed cracks.
The Sonapur bridge acts as an important link between Meghalaya and several other Northeastern states including Cachar district of Assam.
As far as construction of a permanent bridge at Shillong bypass, the NHAI has already floated tender and the construction work is expected to start by March-April this year.
Meanwhile, referring to the alleged irregularities on the toll gates, the deputy chief minister made it clear that the state government has no role in managing of the toll gates in Meghalaya. It is the NHAI that manages the toll gates in Meghalaya, he said.