SHILLONG, May 4: Umiam bridge is perhaps a disaster waiting to happen. But in ensuring that it is averted, the High Court of Meghalaya has asked the state government to make every endeavour to ensure that the replacement of Umiam bridge is planned and the work commenced without waiting for the existing bridge to collapse.
The court, on Wednesday, said it is heartening that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have agreed that the Umiam bridge should be replaced by a more robust construction so it can withstand regular traffic.
“Indeed, the BRO indicates in its affidavit that vehicles bearing a total weight in excess of 10 MT should not be allowed on the bridge. There is no doubt implicit in such suggestion is that the existing bridge may not be able to bear the present traffic load. This is a situation which cries out for a stitch in time so that Shillong is not cut off for the want of a bridge over a reservoir,” the court said in an order.
“The State must also immediately regulate the flow of traffic along the bridge to ensure that not only the vehicles weighing more than 10 MT are not allowed on the bridge, but also to see that two heavy vehicles do not use the bridge at the same time to cause any further damage thereto. Measures should be taken so that the traffic is regulated at either end and the flow is not disrupted, yet not too many vehicles use the bridge at the same time, particularly keeping in mind the total weight spread over the bridge,” the order said.
The court said the state government may approach the Centre for release of appropriate funds since the matter pertains to the shortest access to the state capital.
“Let the matter appear four weeks hence after the representatives of the State, NHAI and BRO have met and effective steps have been taken at the behest of the State in such regard,” the court said.
